Atlassian's Forge platform provides Jira administrators a secure, serverless way to build custom apps that extend Jira Cloud functionality. Recently, developers demonstrated how Forge can create new project-level custom fields, fulfilling key user requests for enhanced project metrics tracking.
- Forge simplifies custom app development with serverless architecture for Jira
- New project custom fields support tailored KPI tracking and workflow needs
- Admins can build, deploy and update apps using Forge CLI and UI components
What happened
Atlassian has highlighted how its Forge platform can be used to build custom Jira Cloud apps that add new project-level fields. This was showcased through a tutorial demonstrating the creation of a Forge app that inserts a numerical project custom field, such as team size, into the project settings sidebar. The app uses Forge's Properties API to store and retrieve data on a per-project basis, integrating with Jira's product context to display and edit values directly within the Jira UI.
The Forge platform handles the underlying infrastructure, authentication, scaling, and security, allowing Jira administrators to focus on designing custom solutions that meet their organization’s needs without worrying about hosting or managing backend services. Developers can build these apps locally, update permissions in the manifest file, and deploy updates using Forge's command-line interface, streamlining the customization process.
Why it matters
Jira administrators often encounter the challenge of needing features tailored specifically to their team's project workflows. Previously, customizing Jira to this degree required extensive development resources or external tools. Forge changes this by offering a low-overhead, secure platform to create custom functionalities embedded directly in Jira Cloud, enhancing the platform’s flexibility and usability.
The ability to add project-specific custom fields empowers teams to track important KPIs like team size or project scope directly within Jira, supporting better project management and decision-making. Furthermore, Forge’s design as a serverless Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) ensures that apps are scalable, secure, and easy to maintain, reducing operational complexity for IT teams.
What to watch next
Look for Atlassian to expand Forge’s capabilities and developer resources, enabling even more sophisticated customizations across Jira Cloud and other Atlassian products. As organizations increasingly demand tailored workflows, Forge apps that enhance project tracking, reporting, and automation are likely to proliferate.
Jira admins and developers interested in creating or testing custom project fields should monitor updates to Forge APIs, UI components, and permission scopes. Keeping an eye on official Atlassian Forge documentation and community forums will also be key to leveraging new features and best practices for building secure and performant Forge apps.