A no-fluff breakdown of what actually works for modern software teams.
Developers Don't Need Just Another Task Board
If you've ever juggled GitHub, Jira, Notion, Slack, and Zoom while working across time zones, you know the real pain of remote development isn't writing code—it's managing all the other stuff. Communication gaps, tool fatigue, and misaligned workflows can slow your team down more than bad code.
So, in 2025, what do dev-first teams actually use to stay productive, async, and collaborative?
This post breaks down the best project management tools developers are using in the wild—based on hands-on usage, community buzz, and features that make sense for actual developer workflows.
Let's dive in.
1. Teamcamp – Built for Remote Dev Teams Who Do It All in One Place
Teamcamp is the "it just works" choice for modern remote teams who want fewer tabs and better flow. It's not just a task tracker it's a full operating system for remote collaboration.
What Makes It Stand Out:
- Task Boards, Messaging, File & Document Management: Robust project boards with List, Board, Calendar, and Timeline views, enriched by deep discussion threads directly within tasks
- Time Tracking with Reporting: Start a timer or log manually per task/project. Analyze time spent across team, project, and client for better insights
- Invoicing & Client Portal: Convert tracked hours into invoices, send directly to clients, and offer secure portal access for them to view and comment on progress
- Seamless Collaborations: Built-in messaging, file sharing, and @mentions, eliminating the need for external tools .
- Powerful Integrations: Connect with Slack, GitHub, Zapier, and others to fit into your development flow
Why Dev Teams Will Appreciate It:
- All-in-One Without the Bloat: Manage tasks, track time, collaborate, and invoice—all without juggling multiple apps.
- Contextual Discussions: No more searching Slack for task-related conversations—everything lives within each task.
- Time & Billing Built for Freelancers and Agencies: Ideal for dev teams that need to bill clients or track effort.
“Teamcamp brought our projects, client communication, invoicing, and time logs into one it’s a game-changer.
Streamline remote work with the right project tool
2. Linear – For Devs Who Love Speed, Elegance, and GitHub Integration
If you love clean UI, keyboard-driven navigation, and fast load times, Linear will feel like a breath of fresh air. It's the favorite among devs who want structure without the Jira bulk.
Features Devs Love:
- Super fast and keyboard-first
- Seamless GitHub/GitLab integration (PRs auto-close issues)
- Intelligent backlog and cycle management
- Roadmaps and project views that actually make sense
Linear is popular with startups, product-led teams, and indie hackers alike. It's not bloated, but it's powerful enough to replace traditional enterprise tools for smaller teams.
"Linear is what Jira would look like if it was built by designers and devs in 2025."
3. GitHub Projects – Best for Staying Inside the Code
Some teams prefer not to leave GitHub at all—and that's totally valid. GitHub Projects has come a long way, offering boards, tables, roadmaps, and automation right inside your repository.
Highlights:
- Visual Kanban boards and roadmap timelines
- Automation rules tied to issue or PR status
- Markdown-native workflows (great for devs)
- Tight integration with Discussions, Actions, and Releases
GitHub Projects is perfect if you want to minimize tooling and live in the dev environment 100% of the time. For open-source teams, it's a no-brainer.
Heads up: It lacks built-in video, chat, or planning docs, so you'll need to supplement with tools like Discord or Notion.
4. Notion – Great for Dev Wikis and Documentation-Driven Teams
While Notion isn't a traditional project management tool, many dev teams use it to organize everything from API specs to sprint plans.
Where It Shines:
- Collaborative docs, code snippets, and embedded Loom videos
- Linked databases for tracking bugs, tasks, and release notes
- Public pages for open-source projects or internal onboarding
Combine it with Linear or Teamcamp for a full-stack async setup. Its flexibility is unmatched—but it's not ideal for task-heavy dev teams unless paired with another tool.
5. Jira – The Classic, Still Relevant (But Heavy)
Jira remains the tool of choice for enterprise teams with strict agile processes, QA pipelines, and long product roadmaps.
Why Large Teams Use It:
- Powerful custom workflows and permission layers
- Deep integration with Confluence, Bitbucket, and ServiceDesk
- Sprint planning, burndown charts, velocity tracking
The learning curve is steep, but if your team is 50+ devs with multiple product managers, it might be worth it.
Pro tip: Keep it lightweight with pre-built templates and pair it with Loom or Slack for async discussions.
6. Asana – Cross-Team Friendly but Light on Dev Features
Asana is great for hybrid teams involving marketing, design, and development. Its visual task boards and timelines are intuitive and beautifully designed.
Strengths:
- Easy onboarding for non-tech teammates
- Beautiful UI/UX, calendar, and list views
- Workflow automation for repetitive work
Asana lacks deep GitHub integration, but for design-heavy product teams or startups, it's a great coordination hub.
Honorable Mentions
- ClickUp – Extremely customizable but might feel bloated to some devs.
- Basecamp – Still relevant for teams focused more on communication than complex workflows.
- Monday.com – Better for marketing-heavy organs than dev teams, but solid visuals.
Final Thoughts: Choose Tools That Fit Your Dev Culture
No matter how powerful a PM tool is, if your dev team finds it annoying, they won’t use it. That’s why adoption matters more than features.
So here’s a quick summary:
Use Case | Best Tool |
---|---|
devs who want it all in one place | Teamcamp |
Speed + GitHub-focused teams | Linear |
Lean OSS teams who live in code | GitHub Projects |
Devs who love async docs | Notion |
Large engineering orgs with scrum | Jira |
Hybrid teams (design/dev/marketing) | Asana |
Streamline remote work with the right project tool
Project management isn’t about stuffing your stack with flashy tools it’s about choosing the one that truly fits your team’s rhythm.
What tool does your remote dev team use to stay on track and async?
Top comments (3)
any of this for linux based distros?
Linear is outstanding, I have used for my personal projects. Never heard of Team camp before.
You should also add Huly to this list huly.io/
Activecollab?