Imagine standing on the edge of a vast, bustling city. The skyline stretches as far as you can see, and below it, an intricate network of streets buzzes with activity. People move purposefully from one place to another, each individual contributing to the overall vitality of the urban landscape. As you watch this captivating scene unfold before your eyes, you find yourself wondering how this complex system functions so seamlessly.

Managing a software development team is much like observing that vibrant metropolis – countless moving parts working in harmony to create something greater than the sum of its components. And just like our sprawling cityscape, keeping track of every aspect can be overwhelming without the right tools at your disposal.

Enter GitHub and Harvest integration – two powerful platforms coming together to help streamline your workflow and keep your development projects running smoothly. 

Much in the same way modern technology enhances urban life by simplifying daily tasks and improving communication, GitHub's collaboration capabilities – combined with Harvest's time tracking prowess – can transform how your team tackles projects for maximum efficiency.

Here, we'll explore how integrating GitHub with Harvest can revolutionize your approach to managing software development projects while maintaining that delicate balance between productivity and harmony within your digital metropolis. 

Grab your blueprint and hard hat; let's dive into building a better workflow.

What is GitHub?

Welcome to GitHub, the go-to hub for version control and collaboration that's got developers buzzing! With Git, its trusty sidekick, GitHub keeps a watchful eye on every change made to project files, letting multiple people play in the same sandbox without stepping on each other's toes. The result? Smoother collaboration and a turbo-charged workflow!

Repositories: Storage lockers for projects

Say hello to repositories, GitHub's trusty storage lockers for your project files and their history. Create a repository, and you're all set to stash your files, folders, and every single change made along the way. It's like a time machine for your projects, letting you track progress, rewind to past versions, and join forces with other devs.

Branching: Work on multiple project versions

Unleash the power of branching to work on different versions of a project simultaneously. With separate branches, team members can tinker with new features, squash bugs, or even run wild experiments without throwing the main project off course. And when the masterpiece is ready, merge it back into the main branch with ease.

Pull requests: Review and approve code changes

Pull requests are the unsung heroes of the GitHub workflow, letting you request and review code changes before welcoming them into the main project. This way, every change gets a nod of approval from at least one other dev, polishing the codebase to perfection.

Issues and GitHub pages: Manage tasks and host websites

And to top it off, GitHub's got Issues and GitHub Pages in its arsenal. Issues keep tabs on bugs, feature requests, and other project tasks, while GitHub Pages let you host sleek static websites straight from your repository. Neat, huh?

How about Harvest?

Harvest is the ultimate time tracking and invoicing software designed to revolutionize the way businesses track billable hours and manage projects with unparalleled efficiency. It boasts a range of game-changing features that streamline time management, reporting, invoicing, and project management like no other.

Timesheet reporting: Unmatched insights into team performance

The timesheet reporting feature in Harvest stands head and shoulders above our competitors, delivering unrivaled insights into team performance and project progress. With meticulously detailed reports at your fingertips, you'll be empowered to identify trends, pinpoint potential issues early on, and make data-driven decisions that will elevate your workflow to new heights.

Invoicing: Craft and send impeccable invoices

Invoices are vital for any business's success – but we’ve got you covered. Our platform not only simplifies but elevates the invoicing process by allowing you to create and send immaculate invoices directly from within the system. Leveraging your timesheet data for accuracy, you can tailor every invoice's appearance while also setting up seamless recurring billing options.

Expense tracking: Effortlessly record and categorize expenses

Harvest makes expense tracking a breeze by providing an intuitive interface where recording and categorizing expenses become second nature. Attach receipts with ease and organize expenses systematically so that accurate billing is guaranteed while keeping close tabs on costs without breaking a sweat.

Project management: Set budgets, estimates & timelines like a pro

Lastly – but certainly not least – Harvest offers cutting-edge project management features such as effortlessly setting budgets, estimates, and timelines for projects that leave competitors in the dust. These tools empower you to stay on track consistently while managing expectations flawlessly so that delivering projects on time within budget becomes standard practice when using Harvest as part of your arsenal.

The problem: Using GitHub & Harvest manually is challenging

While GitHub is fantastic for programmers, manually transferring data between the two platforms can be frustrating and time-consuming. This inefficient process can result in errors, missed billable hours, and unnecessary administrative tasks that take away from your actual work.

For example, a developer might spend hours working on a GitHub issue, only to forget to log their time in Harvest. This can lead to under-billing clients, misrepresenting the actual time spent on a task, and an inaccurate representation of team performance.

Moreover, managing projects and budgets across separate platforms can be challenging, as information may become siloed or outdated. This makes it difficult to get a clear picture of your team's progress and overall project health.

The benefits of integrating GitHub x Harvest

By integrating GitHub and Harvest, you'll experience several advantages that lead to a more streamlined and efficient workflow. Some of these benefits include:

  • Improved time tracking for projects: With the integration, you can automatically log time spent on GitHub issues and pull requests directly to Harvest. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures accurate time tracking.

  • Better project management: By combining the project management features of Harvest with GitHub's collaboration tools, you can manage budgets, deadlines, and team performance more effectively. This helps you stay on top of your projects' progress and make informed decisions.

  • Enhanced collaboration between team members: Integrating GitHub with Harvest allows team members to easily access and share information across both platforms. This promotes better communication and collaboration, leading to more efficient and successful projects.

By leveraging the integration between GitHub and Harvest, businesses can save time and resources while improving project management, collaboration, and overall efficiency.

Track time directly from GitHub issues: 

With our Harvest extension for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox, you can integrate with GitHub to track time directly from your team's GitHub issues and pull requests. 

Using the GitHub integration

  • Download the extension: If you don't already have the Harvest extension for your browser, you can find steps for downloading it in our articles on the Harvest Chrome extension, the Harvest Edge extension, and the Harvest Firefox extension. 

  • Tracking time in GitHub: Once the extension is linked to Harvest, you can track time on any issue or pull request: 

    1. Click the track time button in the upper right corner of the issue or pull request, or down near the comments section. 

    2. A timer window will open up. Choose a project and task. 

    3. Click start timer or add some time and save. 

    4. To start a timer, click the running timer icon again (it will have turned blue). The timer window will open, and you can click stop timer. 

Harvest project and tasks suggestions

Harvest projects will be suggested based on your GitHub repository. Once you or one of your teammates tracks time to a repo, we’ll remember the project you tracked time to and suggest it every time in that repo.

Harvest tasks will be suggested based on your GitHub issue or pull request. Once you or one of your teammates tracks time to an issue or pull request, we’ll remember the task you tracked time to and suggest it every time for that issue or pull request.

Note: You must set your projects up independently in Harvest. GitHub repositories will not automatically be created as projects in Harvest.

Getting started with Harvest

Don't miss the chance to improve your workflow with Harvest, especially when integrated with GitHub. Try Harvest for your business with our free trial option and experience the benefits first-hand. By combining the powerful features of GitHub with the time-saving tools of Harvest, you'll be well on your way to a more efficient and productive work environment. Visit our website for more information and to sign up.

Wrap-up

And there you have it, folks! The secret sauce to supercharging your workflow is uniting the powers of GitHub and Harvest. Say goodbye to tedious manual work and hello to a streamlined, turbo-charged work environment that'll leave your competitors in the dust!

By integrating these two titans, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, from impeccable time tracking to seamless project management and enhanced collaboration. Plus, armed with our step-by-step guide, you'll be ready to conquer the world of efficient workflows in no time.

So, what are you waiting for? It's time to merge the might of GitHub and Harvest and watch your productivity soar to new heights. Let's get this integration party started and unleash your workflow's full potential.