Creating Your First Board

A board in Taskflame is your workspace for organizing tasks using the kanban methodology. This guide will walk you through creating and customizing your first board.

Understanding Kanban Boards

Kanban is a visual project management method that uses columns to represent different stages of work:

• To Do - Tasks that need to be started
• In Progress - Tasks currently being worked on
• Done - Completed tasks

Creating a New Board

Step 1: Access the Board Creator

From your dashboard, you have several ways to create a new board:

1. Click the "Create Board" button (most prominent option)
2. Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+B (or Ctrl+B on Windows)
3. Click the "+" icon in the sidebar

Step 2: Board Configuration

When creating a board, you'll see a simple form:

Board Name

Choose a descriptive name that reflects the project or area of work:

• ✅ "Website Redesign"
• ✅ "Q1 Marketing Campaign"
• ✅ "Bug Fixes - January"
• ❌ "Board 1" (too generic)

Board Description (Optional)

Add a brief description to help team members understand the board's purpose:

• "Track progress on the new company website design and development"
• "Coordinate all marketing activities for Q1 2025"

Step 3: Customize Your Columns

By default, Taskflame creates three columns:

• To Do
• In Progress
• Done

You can customize these during or after board creation.

Customizing Your Board

Adding Custom Columns

Many teams need more than three columns. Common setups include:

Software Development

• Backlog
• To Do
• In Progress
• Code Review
• Testing
• Done

Content Creation

• Ideas
• Research
• Writing
• Review
• Published

General Project Management

• Planning
• To Do
• In Progress
• Review
• Complete

To Add a Column:

1. Click the "+" button next to existing columns
2. Enter the column name
3. Choose a color (optional)
4. Click "Add Column"

Reordering Columns

Drag and drop columns to reorder them:

1. Click and hold the column header
2. Drag to the desired position
3. Release to drop

Board Settings

Access board settings by clicking the gear icon in the board header:

Privacy Settings

• Private - Only you can see and edit
• Team - Invite specific team members
• Public - Anyone with the link can view

Notifications

Configure when you receive notifications:

• New tasks added
• Tasks moved between columns
• Comments added
• Due dates approaching

Board Colors

Personalize your board with custom colors:

• Choose from preset color schemes
• Set custom colors for columns
• Apply brand colors for team consistency

Best Practices

Naming Conventions

Use consistent naming for similar boards:

• Include project name or area
• Add dates if time-bound
• Use clear, descriptive language

Column Limits

Consider setting WIP (Work in Progress) limits:

• Prevents team overload
• Maintains focus on completion
• Improves overall flow

Regular Maintenance

• Archive completed boards
• Review and update column names
• Remove unnecessary tasks

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too Many Columns

• Start simple with 3-4 columns
• Add more only when needed
• More columns ≠ better organization

Vague Task Titles

• Be specific about what needs to be done
• Include context when necessary
• Use action verbs ("Review", "Create", "Fix")

Not Using Due Dates

• Add due dates for time-sensitive tasks
• Use calendar view to see deadlines
• Set up notifications for approaching dates

What's Next?

Now that you have your first board set up:

1. Start adding tasks - Learn how to create and manage tasks effectively
2. Invite team members - Share your board and collaborate with others
3. Explore keyboard shortcuts - Speed up your workflow with power-user features

Troubleshooting

Can't Create a Board?

• Check your subscription limits
• Ensure you're logged in
• Try refreshing the page

Board Not Saving?

• Check your internet connection
• Look for error messages
• Contact support if issues persist

Ready to start organizing your work? Create your first board and experience the power of visual project management! 🚀