Feel connected, no matter where you are.

Early on when developing the web site for our non-profit corporation, I made the decision to go with Joomla as the backbone of our web site.  After implementing some basic functionality, I started my search for a simple to-do list to remind us of tasks that needed to be done.  Some of the items are time sensitive (example: federal tax filings) while others did not require a timeframe (example: update web site).  I was unable to locate any suitable extensions or modules for Joomla.  Most were implemented entirely in the admin back end, which did not help for tasking those who were not Joomla administrators.  One of the requirements was the price had to be minimal (read "free") since we had no budget for this and any investment would come directly from my own pocket.

I then expanded my search into task managers, defect trackers and project management packages.  I had no luck locating any suitable task managers.  I found only one defect tracker that had a third party interface written from Joomla to the tracking software (that one was Flyspray).  While the Flyspray package itself looked promising, the extension was difficult to implement and did not truly coordinate a two way exchange of information.  Most of the project management packages were too simplistic to use in that they did not have the due date or other features that I was looking for.  One package that showed promise was ProjectFork.  I tested that one out and it seemed like extreme overkill.  It had the features I was looking for, but set up was a nightmare.  Projects needed to be set up and then all members assigned to the project before tasks could be written and resources assigned.  There was also no central place to see a total overview of all projects and tasks.  Each set of reports was on a project basis.  The other thing I did not like about ProjectFork was that there is a only single menu item available which takes you into a ProjectFork control panel.  You then have to click around the control panel to get onto the right project and task in order to assign resources, add a new task, etc.  The user interface is very confusing and complicated.  The price was right - free.

I then ran across Dingo.  What I like about Dingo is that most of the functionality is right in the front end.  Very little configuration is needed on the admin back end.  There are menu options readily available for viewing my tasks, adding tasks, viewing the project overview status, etc.  One click items instead of a series of 10 to 12 clicks to get to the same place in other packages.  The user interface is much more intuitive than others I have seen.  When my wife reviewed it with me, she picked up on the interface and how to do things immediately.  That is an accomplishment, since she is not what I would consider a computer power user.

The support and response I got from the Dingo team was outstanding.  Kase and the rest from Apin were extremely quick in answering any questions.  They offered to install the software for me, or have me install it myself.  I chose to let him install it on our site.  They installed the software and had it up and running in less than 4 hours after I made the initial contact.  Even after I killed the installation (through my own fault), he was able to restore the module the next day after I sent him an email and I was back in business.  The leaning curve is very shallow.  Anyone who is used to project tracking software will pick up the interface in minutes.  There are a couple of "features" that caught me by surprise, but Kase explained how the feature worked and the design philosophy behind the feature.  After hearing the "why", I had to agree with the decision that the Dingo team made regarding the features.

I spent approximately half an hour loading up all the tasks that I could think of to keep our non-profit afloat and out of trouble with state and federal reporting requirements.  That alone is reason enough to get Dingo.  We can be assured that we will stay in compliance and spend our time where it is most productive - fulfilling our core purpose, instead of worrying over forgetting federal or state deadlines and tracking those with dozens of pieces of paper with shifting personnel.