GanttProject is free project management software for Windows, Mac OS and Unix / Linux systems. Compared to Microsoft Project, GanttProject has a much smaller range of features, which can be an advantage. The software is currently available in more than thirty languages, which are selectable at the time of installation.

WBS

Setup of the work breakdown structure is similar to other project management tools. The PSP can be entered in a table view. It can be customized by enable/disable of ten predefined columns, which can be supplemented by user-defined fields. Most fields are of an informative nature only (priority, coordinator, completion state).

Planning

Like other project management tools, GanttProject knows all four standard relationships between work packages. Additionally, GanttProject differentiates between "hard" and "soft" relationships. With a soft relationship, the delay between two work packages is increased whenever possible. The dependencies can be given alternatively as a table or as a Gantt chart. Editing in a PERT view is not possible. For work packages, GanttProject can only set the duration, not the effort. A forward or backward calculation of the start date does not exist. Buffer calculation, resource leveling, and critical path visualization is also not available. The resource view and a simple baseline mechanism offer the only clues for a plausible plan. In the resource view, the resource strains are visualized. However, for removal of such conflicts the project manager must manually search the affected work packages and move them into a suitable position. Accordingly, Gantt chart is more a drawing program than a planning tool.

Resources

The only resources in GanttProject are human resources. Beside informative data, out-of-office-days can be entered. The only possible default availability is 100%. Part-time assignments are not allowed. Because GanttProject does not calculate any costs, no cost estimates can be made. A hierarchical structure of the resources – in teams, for example - is not supported.

Reporting

Integrated reporting does not exist.

Import/Export

An import and export function for Microsoft Project files exists. An interface to other project management tools is not available. In addition, the current plan can be exported as a picture, csv file, html, or pdf report. GanttProject stores its own data as XML.

Handling

GanttProject is a Java-based project management application. However, the look and feel are similar to pure Windows applications. Because of the reduced feature set, familiarization is quick. The user interface is structured clearly and easy to understand.

Documentation

The off-line Help and the twenty “tips of the day“ are quickly covered. Not every feature of the project management software is explained in detail, but it is easy to work with, especially for Microsoft Project users. Context-sensitive Help is not provided.

Conclusion

GanttProject offers (compared to other project management tools) only a reduced number of functions, but this can be its strength. Most Microsoft Project users would use the tool as a Gantt chart drawing program. For such users, GanttProject is definitively the better choice. An easy to use, trouble-free installation, availability as freeware, and a pleasant handling distinguish this tool. However, the user should not expect an extended planning support. Better project management software is available on the market for this need.