How A "Run on Atlassian" Gantt Chart Transforms Agile Projects

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Hi community, it's Lucas from DevSamurai. Today, I want to share you about what "Run on Atlassian" and how a Run-on-Atlassian Gantt chart can transform your Agile project.

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Imagine you’re a project manager juggling a dozen tasks, deadlines looming, and stakeholders asking for updates. Chaos, right?

Then, you discover the Atlassian Gantt chart, and suddenly, your project’s timeline is crystal clear. Whether managing a software sprint or a marketing campaign, Gantt charts in the Atlassian ecosystem can transform how you plan and execute.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Gantt charts in Jira, their benefits, and how to make them work for you.

Let’s dive in!

Understanding Gantt charts in the Atlassian ecosystem

First, let's take a moment to get to know about Gantt charts in the Atlassian ecosystem (especially if you're new around here). 

Gantt charts are visual tools that map out your project’s tasks on a timeline, showing start and end dates, dependencies, and milestones. In Atlassian’s world, they’re supercharged by seamless integration with Jira for task tracking and Confluence for documentation.

So whether you’re running Agile sprints or a Waterfall project, Atlassian’s Gantt charts adapt to your needs.

What makes them special? They update in real time as your team logs progress in Jira, keeping everyone aligned. You’ll see tasks on the left and a timeline with colorful bars on the right, showing who’s doing what and when.

Plus, they handle dependencies and milestones like a charm.

You’ve got options: Jira’s native Roadmaps and Advanced Roadmaps (now is Advanced Planning) offer basic Gantt-like views. But if you want advanced features, third-party plugins easily steal the show.

What does “Run on Atlassian” mean?

Now, let's understand this relatively new term in case you missed it. “Run on Atlassian” is a new badge for qualifying apps on its marketplace in May 2025, introducing a new transparency level and trust for all customers.

To acquire this latest badge, all apps need to be built on Forge, Atlassian’s next-generation developer platform.

Besides, they also must:

• Use only Atlassian’s cloud infrastructure for computing and storage.
• Offer data residency matching the regions of Atlassian apps.
• Enable customers to manage and, if needed, restrict data egress at any time.

For more information about this badge, please visit Atlassian’s Marketplace App Trust.

So, why build with Forge?

Building on Forge allows Atlassian to handle the infrastructure using a server-less platform. Besides, developers now can host their apps on the Atlassian platform with Forge, including advantages like:

• Industry-leading developer experience
• Trusted infrastructure
• Platform power

For more details, please read Atlassian's Introduction to Forge.

How to create a Run on Atlassian Gantt chart

Ready to build your own Gantt chart? Here’s how to get started with Atlassian’s tools and plugins.

1. Using Jira’s native tools

Jira’s built-in features are a great starting point. For example, Jira Advanced Planning is ideal for multi-team projects. It allows visualizing dependencies across teams, planning epics, and tracking progress at scale.

2. Third-party plugins

With this change from Atlassian, more and more vendors are trying to get on the Forge train. Just by searching for Forge, you can see there are already apps with the badge "Run on Forge". However, there are not many apps for creating Gantt charts.

Fortunately, GanttTable for Jira has already been available. It is a fantastic option for teams needing a clean, comprehensive interface while leveraging the power of an advanced spreadsheet to manage Jira issues (work types) effortlessly. 

Moreover, it supports table color marking and customizable views, making it perfect for both simple and intricate projects.

Here is a bonus tip: With GanttTable, you can create different custom structures to illustrate a unique view of your project and workflow. Additionally, you can save that view for later use.

Best practices for an Atlassian Gantt Chart

To make your run on Atlassian Gantt chart a success, follow these expanded best practices:

1. Start simple and scale gradually

Begin with a small project or a single team to get comfortable with the tool, whether it’s Jira Roadmaps or a plugin like GanttTable. Once you’re confident, scale up to larger, cross-team projects. This approach minimizes overwhelm and builds team buy-in.

2. Define dependencies with precision

You can map task relationships using dependency types like Finish-to-Start (FS), Start-to-Start (SS), Finish-to-Finish (FF), or Start-to-Finish (SF). For example, ensure coding finishes before testing starts (FS).

3. Keep charts updated in real-time

Gantt charts are only as good as their data. Therefore, you should encourage your team to log progress, update task statuses, and adjust dates in Jira regularly.

Besides, leveraging automated syncing in plugins ensures your chart reflects the latest changes without manual rework. Collaboration keeps everyone aligned and reduces miscommunication.

4. Use milestones to anchor progress

You should mark key deliverables, like sprint reviews or product launches, as milestones. These act as rallying points for your team and help track major achievements.

5. Communicate with stakeholders effectively

You can tailor your Gantt chart views for different audiences. For executives, create high-level charts focusing on milestones and deadlines.

For teams, use detailed views in Jira with task-level dependencies.

6. Leverage automation for efficiency

It is recommended to use Jira’s automation rules to streamline updates. For example, rules can be set to adjust task dates when a predecessor task is delayed, or assignees can be notified when tasks are ready to start.

As a result, this reduces manual maintenance and keeps your Gantt chart accurate.

7. Ensure data accuracy upfront

Before building your chart, you must verify that Jira issues have correct start/end dates, assignees, and priorities. Inaccurate data leads to misleading timelines.

That’s why you should spend time cleaning up your Jira project to save headaches later.

8. Iterate and refine your charts

You should treat your Gantt chart as a living document. Review it in sprint retrospectives or project check-ins to identify what’s working and what needs tweaking.

Additionally, you can adjust timelines, dependencies, or resources based on real-world progress to keep your plan realistic.

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So, what do you think about the "Run on Atlassian" badge and Forge? Please comment down below if you want to have a small conversation about it.

Thanks for reading 😊