Issue Tracking Systems

3.3IBM Rational ClearQuest

Homepage: http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/clearquest/

License: Proprietary (1720 – 4810 USD)

Implemented in: Perl / Visual Basic

Demo site: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/downloads/r/rcq/tryonline.html

(registration required)
Rational Software is one of the IBM software brands, which includes solutions and tools designed to facilitate application development. Its portfolio covers the entire software development cycle, from requirements gathering, design and modeling through to coding and testing to the project management, change management, and quality assurance. Part of IBM Rational is the Rational Unified Process methodology (RUP), which became a de-facto reference model for the management of large software projects.
Rational ClearQuest is a flexible tool for tracking requirements and changes across the software development process. It offers a complete and fully customizable environment for integration and monitoring of any changes during software development. The RUP concept presupposes using Unified Change Management tools at all stages of the life cycle of the project; therefore, there are wide possibilities of integration of ClearQuest with other Rational tools.

[MIT-WIK2]

The difference between this and other issue tracking tools is that application is primary designed as a fat client, which is directly connected to the databases in which schemas and user data are stored. The Microsoft Windows platform is an available native client. If an alternative platform is favoured, the Eclipse platform based client, Eclipse plug-in, or configuring web-based access can be executed.

Installation

ClearQuest is delivered as a Java-based binary installation file, which supports either GUI-based installation (more friendly for desktops) or text-based installation (more friendly for remote servers). No special preparations are necessary; the installation file includes all necessary parts.

[TSO-IBM1]

User interface

ClearQuest is primary designed as a desktop client which connects to databases. This can be a little bit confusing for people used to web-based Issue tracking systems. Using it is like using an ordinal application (i.e. a text editor, etc.) For example, to create a new ticket, one must choose New -> Defect, the right mouse button is used to get a list of actions available with the things seen, and so on; however, even after the author did not feel comfortable within the system. Even on web forums, ClearQuest has been criticized for its large resource footprint, sluggish performance, and sub-par usability and design.
As mentioned above, except for the Eclipse platform-based client, there is also a native Windows client and web-based client. All three clients are quite similar in appearance, so a user should not have any problems with changing from one to another. The web version offers all the functionality of the full version except for the ability to create queries.

Screen shot : ClearQuest use-case - Login to selected requests database

Screen shot : ClearQuest use-case - Create new defect ticket

Screen shot : ClearQuest use-case - Add new defects details

Screen shot : ClearQuest use-case - List of defects (and enabled actions)

Screen shot : ClearQuest use-case - View defects details

Screen shot : ClearQuest client for MS Windows

Ticket system

By default, the ticket workflow keeps the recommendation by RUP, as you can see below.

Figure : Default IBM Rational ClearQuest ticket workflow

[TSO-IBM1]
However, it is really easy to modify it using the ClearQuest Designer application.

Screen shot : ClearQuest Designer - modifying ticket workflow

ClearQuest also supports Perl scripting, which allows more sophisticated configuration and automation of activities within the system.

Projects management

ClearQuest is designed as a multi-project tracking software. For each project, one can simply create a new database with its own configuration, ticket workflow, access rights, etc.

Analysis and monitoring

Analysis and monitoring skills of ClearQuest are top quality. Perhaps thanks to the RUP methodic behind it, ClearQuest offers plenty of report and graph templates, all of them easily customizable. There are “UI wizards” (step-by-step guides), which enable even a beginner user to create his or her own custom queries and reports; however, as mentioned, the most frequently used templates are there by default.

Source code management systems integration

By default, ClearQuest supports close integration with Rational ClearCase. ClearCase is a software tool for revision control of source code and other software development assets developed by the Rational division of IBM.
There is also possible integration with other source code management systems; however, installation of 3rd party plug-ins is necessary.

Accessibility and extensibility

IBM provides Rational Team API - a unified, client-side Java API for ClearCase and ClearQuest (http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/teamapi/).
“In order to use this API, customers must have installed Version 7.0.0 or 7.0.1 of Rational ClearQuest client or ClearCase Web server. That software installs the required Rational Team API JAR files that are used by the customer's Java classes to access the respective subprovider's repositories. The Rational Team API JAR files contain implementations of the Rational Team API interfaces for each product. For ClearQuest, the Java classes call into existing Java Native Interfaces (JNIs). For ClearCase, the Java classes make HTTP calls to the ClearCase Web Server. These libraries, in turn, access each product's repository.”

IBM Ration Team API webpage

[TSO-IBM2]

ClearQuest UI is based on the Eclipse RPC platform what makes it easily extensible. ClearQuest itself supports Perl scripting, which allows for more sophisticated configuration and automation of activities within the system.

Specialties

• 
  Tight integration with other Rational family products;
  
• 
  Automatic notification of events and changes via e-mail;
  
• 
  Define and run queries and generate reports and analysis as distribution and time graphs;
  
• 
  Response to events and changes by hooks;
  
• 
  Creation and execution of test plans and scenarios and result reports via the integrated TestManager (CQTM);
  
• 
  Supports integration with project management tools MS Project a Rational Portfolio Manager; and
  
• 
  Supports integration with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.
  

[TSO-IBM1] [TSO-WIK2]

Conclusion

As it is, Rational ClearQuest is just another Issue tracking tool with excellent reporting and monitoring possibilities; however, if it is put into the Rational tools-based development environment, it becomes a very powerful issue tracking tool with strong integration to other Rational tools.