Hey everyone,
I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to add a default group of watchers to certain JIRA tasks automatically. Is this something that can be done without any extra plugins or custom coding?
Here’s why I’m asking:
We do releases pretty often, and each time we create a main task with a bunch of subtasks. It would be super helpful if we could have a specific group of people automatically added as watchers to these tasks. That way, they’d get notifications when the tasks are updated or finished.
Has anyone done something like this before? Any tips or ideas would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
yep, u can set up automatic watchers in JIRA! go to project settings > issue types > select ur release task type > default watchers. add the group u want there. it’ll add em automatically whenever u create that task type. super handy for keeping everyone in the loop!
As someone who’s been in your shoes, I can tell you that JIRA’s automatic watcher feature is a game-changer for release management. While AdventurousHiker17 gave a good starting point, I’ve found that combining it with JIRA’s automation rules takes it to the next level.
Here’s what worked wonders for our team: We set up an automation rule that not only adds default watchers but also notifies specific teams based on the components involved in the release. This way, you’re not just adding a blanket group of watchers, but tailoring the notifications to the right people.
One caveat though - make sure you regularly review and update your watcher lists. We once had a situation where people who had left the company were still getting notifications. It caused some confusion and unnecessary inbox clutter for their replacements.
Lastly, consider setting up a dedicated Slack channel that integrates with JIRA for these release tasks. It’s been incredibly useful for quick discussions without clogging up everyone’s email.
I’ve implemented a similar system for our team, and it’s been incredibly beneficial. While the default watchers feature is useful, we found that combining it with JIRA’s workflow transitions enhanced our process significantly.
We set up a custom workflow that automatically adds specific watchers at different stages of the release task. For example, when a task moves to ‘In Review’, it adds QA team members as watchers. This ensures the right people are notified at the right time, reducing noise and increasing efficiency.
One word of caution: be mindful of notification fatigue. We had to fine-tune our setup to prevent overwhelming team members with too many alerts. Regular reviews of the watcher lists and notification settings have been crucial in maintaining a balanced system.
Consider also leveraging JIRA’s API if you need more complex rules for adding watchers. It offers more flexibility, though it does require some coding knowledge.