How to Download and Install Redmine
Redmine is a free and open source web-based project management tool that allows you to manage multiple projects and associated subprojects. It features per project wikis and forums, time tracking, and flexible role-based access control. It also integrates with various version control systems and supports 49 languages.
download redmine
If you are looking for a powerful, flexible, and cost-effective project management solution, then you should consider using Redmine. In this article, we will show you how to download, install, configure, and use Redmine for your projects. We will also cover some of the benefits and features of Redmine, as well as some of the alternatives you can choose from.
What is Redmine?
Redmine is an open source project management tool that was released in 2006. It is written using the Ruby on Rails framework, making it cross-platform and cross-database. It is also highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific project management needs.
Redmine's features include the following:
Multiple projects support
Flexible role based access control
Flexible issue tracking system
Gantt chart and calendar
News, documents & files management
Feeds & email notifications
Per project wiki
Per project forums
Time tracking
Custom fields for issues, time-entries, projects and users
SCM integration (including git)
Issue creation via email
Multiple LDAP authentication support
User self-registration support
Multilingual support
Multiple databases support
Plugins support
Why Use Redmine?
Redmine offers several benefits that make it an ideal project management tool for teams of all sizes. Here are some of the benefits of using Redmine:
Open source: Redmine is an open source tool, meaning that it is free to use and can be modified to suit your specific needs. This makes it an ideal tool for small teams and startups with limited budgets.
Supportive community: Redmine has a community of developers and users who contribute to its development and improvement. You can find help, support, documentation, tutorials, plugins, themes, and more on the official website or on other online platforms.
How to Configure Redmine
Redmine is a highly configurable tool that allows you to customize and set up various aspects of its functionality and appearance. You can access the configuration settings by logging in as an administrator and clicking on the Administration link on the top right corner of the web interface.
Some of the configuration settings that you can change include the following:
How to use redmine project management tool
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The ultimate redmine guide for beginners and experts
Redmine features and benefits for project management
Redmine vs other open source project management tools
How to customize redmine with plugins and themes
Redmine integration with git and other SCM tools
Redmine wiki and forum functionality for collaboration
Redmine time tracking and reporting capabilities
Redmine role-based access control and security
How to migrate from other project management tools to redmine
Redmine best practices and tips for success
Redmine support and community resources
Redmine pricing and plans for different needs
Redmine reviews and testimonials from users
How to backup and restore redmine data
Redmine API and development documentation
Redmine alternatives and competitors
How to troubleshoot common redmine issues
Redmine case studies and examples of real projects
How to upgrade redmine to the latest version
Redmine agile and scrum methodology support
Redmine mobile app and responsive design
Redmine email notifications and alerts configuration
Redmine roadmap and future updates
General settings: You can change the application title, the default language, the date and time formats, the host name and protocol, the email address, and more.
Authentication settings: You can change the authentication mode, the password length and complexity, the session expiration time, the self-registration options, the LDAP settings, and more.
Projects settings: You can change the project identifier format, the project modules, the default project trackers, the project activity types, the project custom fields, and more.
Issues settings: You can change the issue statuses, the issue priorities, the issue trackers, the issue categories, the issue relations, the issue custom fields, and more.
Users settings: You can change the user roles, the user permissions, the user groups, the user custom fields, and more.
Email notifications settings: You can change the email delivery method, the email sender address, the email recipients, the email content, and more.
Display settings: You can change the theme, the logo, the favicon, the welcome text, the per page options, and more.
Plugins settings: You can install, uninstall, enable, disable, and configure various plugins that extend Redmine's functionality.
You can also configure Redmine by editing some of its files directly. For example, you can edit config/configuration.yml to change some advanced settings that are not available in the web interface. However, you need to be careful when editing these files and make sure that you follow the correct syntax and format.
How to Use Redmine
Redmine is a powerful and versatile tool that allows you to manage multiple projects and associated subprojects. It also allows you to track issues and tasks, plan and schedule projects, collaborate and communicate with your team members, track time and budget, and more.
To use Redmine effectively, you need to understand some of its main features and functions. Here are some of them:
How to Create and Manage Projects
To create a new project in Redmine, you need to click on the Projects link on the top menu bar and then click on the New project button on the right side of the page. You will be asked to enter some basic information about your project, such as its name, identifier, description, homepage, public or private status, and parent project (if any). You can also enable or disable some of the project modules, such as issue tracking, time tracking, wiki, forums, etc. Once you have filled in the required fields, you can click on the Create button to create your project.
To manage your existing projects in Redmine, you can click on the Projects link on the top menu bar and then click on the name of the project you want to manage. You will see a project overview page that shows some basic information and statistics about your project, such as its description, homepage, members, subprojects, issues, news, documents, files, etc. You can also access some of the project modules from the left sidebar menu, such as issues, Gantt chart, calendar, wiki, forums, etc. You can also edit or delete your project by clicking on the Settings link on the right side of the page.
How to Track Issues and Tasks
To track issues and tasks in Redmine, you need to use the issue tracking module. An issue is a unit of work that needs to be done or a problem that needs to be solved in a project. An issue can have various attributes, such as its subject, description, status, priority, assignee, tracker, category, version, start date, due date, estimated time, spent time, percentage done, etc.
To create a new issue in Redmine, you need to click on the New issue link on the top right corner of the page. You will be asked to enter some information about your issue, such as its subject, description, status, priority, assignee, tracker, category, version, start date, due date, estimated time, percentage done, etc. You can also attach files, add notes, or create subtasks to your issue. Once you have filled in the required fields, you can click on the Create button to create your issue.
To manage your existing issues in Redmine, you can click on the Issues link on the top menu bar or on the left sidebar menu. You will see a list of issues that are related to your current project or to all projects that you are involved in. You can filter, sort, group, or search for issues using various criteria, such as status, priority, assignee, tracker, category, version, etc. You can also edit, update, delete, copy, move, or close issues by clicking on their respective links or buttons. You can also view the details, history, comments, attachments, relations, and subtasks of each issue by clicking on its subject.
How to Plan and Schedule Projects
To plan and schedule projects in Redmine, you need to use the Gantt chart, calendar, roadmap, and milestones modules. These modules allow you to visualize and manage your project's timeline, progress, and deliverables.
The Gantt chart module shows a graphical representation of your project's tasks and their dependencies over time. You can access it by clicking on the Gantt link on the left sidebar menu. You can adjust the time scale, zoom in or out, collapse or expand subtasks, drag and drop tasks to change their start or due dates, and print or export the chart as a PDF file.
The calendar module shows a monthly view of your project's tasks and their due dates. You can access it by clicking on the Calendar link on the left sidebar menu. You can navigate through different months, view the details of each task by hovering over its title, the left sidebar menu. You can create new news articles by clicking on the New news link on the right side of the page, and read existing news articles by clicking on their titles. You can also view the date, author, and comments of each news article by looking at their columns.
The documents module allows you to upload and download documents for your project. You can access it by clicking on the Documents link on the left sidebar menu. You can upload new documents by clicking on the New document link on the right side of the page, and download existing documents by clicking on their titles. You can also view the date, author, description, and category of each document by looking at their columns.
The files module allows you to upload and download files for your project. You can access it by clicking on the Files link on the left sidebar menu. You can upload new files by clicking on the Add files link on the right side of the page, and download existing files by clicking on their names. You can also view the date, author, description, and size of each file by looking at their columns.
The feeds module allows you to subscribe to RSS or Atom feeds for your project. You can access it by clicking on the Feeds link on the left sidebar menu. You can choose to subscribe to feeds for all projects or specific projects, and for all activities or specific activities, such as issues, news, documents, files, etc.
The email notifications module allows you to receive email notifications for your project. You can access it by clicking on your username on the top right corner of the web interface and then clicking on My account. You can choose to receive email notifications for all events or only for events that you are involved in, and for all projects or only for projects that you are a member of.
How to Track Time and Budget
To track time and budget in Redmine, you need to use the time tracking, cost reporting, and budgeting modules. These modules allow you to record, report, and manage your project's time and cost.
The time tracking module allows you to log the time spent on each issue or task in your project. You can access it by clicking on the Log time link on the right side of each issue or task page. You can enter the date, hours, activity, comments, and custom fields for your time entry. You can also view, edit, or delete your existing time entries by clicking on the Spent time link on the left sidebar menu.
The cost reporting module allows you to generate reports on your project's costs based on your time entries and other expenses. You can access it by clicking on the Cost reports link on the left sidebar menu. You can choose to filter, group, sort, and display your cost data using various criteria, such as project, user, issue, tracker, category, version, activity, date, hours, cost, etc. You can also export your cost reports as CSV or PDF files.
The budgeting module allows you to set and manage your project's budget based on your time entries and other expenses. You can access it by clicking on the Budget link on the left sidebar menu. You can enter the budget amount, currency, and description for your project. You can also view the budget status, variance, and percentage of your project. You can also edit or delete your budget by clicking on the Edit or Delete links on the right side of the page.
How to Update and Maintain Redmine
To update and maintain Redmine, you need to follow some steps and precautions to ensure that your data and settings are preserved and that your system is running smoothly. Here are some of the steps and precautions that you need to follow:
Backup your data: Before updating or maintaining Redmine, you need to backup your data, such as your database, your configuration files, your plugins, your themes, and your attachments. You can use various tools and methods to backup your data, such as mysqldump, pg_dump, sqlite3, tar, zip, etc.
Check for updates: To check for updates, you need to visit the official website of Redmine at and see if there is a newer version of Redmine available. You can also subscribe to the RSS or Atom feeds of Redmine to get notified of new releases.
Download and extract the new version: To download and extract the new version of Redmine, you need to follow the same steps as described in the How to Download Redmine section above. However, you need to extract the new version to a different folder than your current version.
Copy your data and settings: To copy your data and settings from your current version to the new version of Redmine, you need to copy some files and folders from your current version folder to your new version folder. These files and folders include config/database.yml, config/configuration.yml, config/secrets.yml, files, plugins, public/themes, etc.
Migrate your database: To migrate your database from your current version to the new version of Redmine, you need to run rake db:migrate RAILS_ENV=production in the command line from your new version folder. This will update your database schema and data according to the new version of Redmine.
Test the new version: To test the new version of Redmine, you need to start the web server from your new version folder by running rails server -e production in the command line. Then you need to access the web interface by opening your browser and visiting . You need to check if everything is working properly and if there are any errors or issues.
Switch to the new version: To switch to the new version of Redmine, you need to stop the web server from your current version folder by pressing Ctrl+C in the command line. Then you need to rename or delete your current version folder and rename your new version folder to the same name as your current version folder. Then you need to restart the web server from your new version folder by running rails server -e production in the command line. Now you have successfully switched to the new version of Redmine.
Alternatives to Redmine
Redmine is a great project management tool, but it may not suit everyone's needs and preferences. If you are looking for some alternatives to Redmine, here are some of the popular ones that you can consider:
Name
Description
Website
Jira
Jira is a project management tool that is designed for agile teams. It allows you to plan, track, and release software projects. It also integrates with other tools, such as Confluence, Bitbucket, and Trello.
Trello
Trello is a project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize and prioritize your tasks. It is simple, flexible, and collaborative. It also integrates with other tools, such as Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
Asana
Asana is a project management tool that helps you manage your team's work, projects, and goals. It allows you to create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, track progress, and communicate with your team.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a project management tool that helps you organize your projects and communicate with your team. It allows you to create to-do lists, share files, chat with your team, schedule events, and more.
GitLab
GitLab is a project management tool that integrates with Git, a version control system. It allows you to manage your code, issues, merge requests, pipelines, and more. It also offers features such as wikis, forums, and pages.
Conclusion
Redmine is a free and open source project management tool that allows you to manage multiple projects and associated subprojects. It features per project wikis and forums, time tracking, and flexible role-based access control. It also integrates with various version control systems and supports 49 languages.
In this article, we have shown you how to download, install, configure, and use Redmine for your projects. We have also covered some of the benefits and features of Redmine, as well as some of the alternatives you can choose from.
We hope that this article has helped you understand and appreciate Redmine as a project management tool. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us through our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the system requirements for Redmine?
The system requirements for Redmine are as follows:
Ruby 2.5 or higher
Rails 5.2 or higher
A database server (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.)A web server (WEBrick, Apache, Nginx, etc.)
How can I change the theme of Redmine?
You can change the theme of Redmine by installing a custom theme or by creating your own theme. To install a custom theme, you need to download it from the official website or from other sources, and then copy it to the public/themes folder of your Redmine installation. Then you need to go to the Administration > Settings > Display tab and select the theme from the Theme drop-down menu. To create your own theme, you need to follow the instructions at .
How can I backup and restore Redmine?
You can backup and restore Redmine by following these steps:
Backup your database: You need to use the appropriate tool or command to backup your database, such as mysqldump, pg_dump, sqlite3, etc. You need to save the backup file to a safe location.
Backup your files: You need to copy or compress the entire folder of your Redmine installation to a safe location. You need to include all the files and folders, such as config, files, plugins, public/themes, etc.
Restore your database: You need to use the appropriate tool or command to restore your database from the backup file, such as mysql, psql, sqlite3, etc. You need to make sure that the database name and settings are the same as before.
Restore your files: You need to copy or decompress the backup folder of your Redmine installation to the original location. You need to overwrite any existing files and folders.
How can I upgrade Redmine?
You can upgrade Redmine by following these steps:
Backup your data and settings: You need to follow the steps described in the previous question to backup your database and files before upgrading.
Check for updates: You need to visit the official website of Redmine at and see if there is a newer version of Redmine available. You can also subscribe to the RSS or Atom feeds of Redmine to get notified of new releases.
Download and extract the new version: You need to follow the steps described in the How to Download Redmine section above. However, you need to extract the new version to a different folder than your current version.
Copy your data and settings: You need to follow the steps described in the How to Update and Maintain Redmine section above. However, you need to copy some files and folders from your current version folder to your new version folder.
Migrate your database: You need to follow the steps described in the How to Update and Maintain Redmine section above. However, you need to run rake db:migrate RAILS_ENV=production in the command line from your new version folder.
Test the new version: You need to follow the steps described in the How to Update and Maintain Redmine section above. However, you need to start the web server from your new version folder and access the web interface to check if everything is working properly.
Switch to the new version: You need to follow the steps described in the How to Update and Maintain Redmine section above. However, you need to stop the web server from your current version folder, rename or delete your current version folder, and rename your new version folder to the same name as your current version folder.
How can I get help and support for Redmine?
You can get help and support for Redmine from various sources, such as:
The official website of Redmine at , where you can find the documentation, the plugins, the themes, and the support forums.
The official wiki of Redmine at , where you can find guides, tutorials, tips, tricks, and FAQs.
The official issue tracker of Redmine at , where you can report bugs, request features, or submit patches.
The official repository of Redmine at , where you can view the source code, fork it, or contribute to it.
The official IRC channel of Redmine at , where you can chat with other Redmine users and developers.
The unofficial Reddit community of Redmine at , where you can discuss and share anything related to Redmine.
The unofficial Stack Overflow community of Redmine at , where you can ask and answer questions related to Redmine.
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