7 Best-Selling Issue Tracking Books Millions Trust

Discover 7 best-selling Issue Tracking books authored by leading experts like Patrick Li and David Harned, offering proven project management insights.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially in the fast-evolving field of Issue Tracking where clarity and precision can make or break project success. With millions relying on Issue Tracking tools like JIRA, mastering these systems has become essential for software teams worldwide. These books capture the nuances and practicalities that help teams stay aligned, track bugs accurately, and streamline workflows.

The authors behind these titles bring deep expertise from decades of hands-on experience in software development and project management. Patrick Li's extensive work within the Atlassian ecosystem, alongside David Harned's leadership in Agile methodologies, ensures their books deliver insights grounded in real-world applications. Whether it's customizing JIRA workflows or running effective Scrum sprints, these guides are invaluable to professionals aiming to optimize issue tracking.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Issue Tracking needs might consider creating a personalized Issue Tracking book that combines these validated approaches. This way, you can blend expert knowledge with your unique workflow challenges for maximum impact.

Best for mastering JIRA 5.2 workflows
Patrick Li is an experienced author in software development and project management with a proven record of delivering high-quality technical content. His expertise shapes this guide to mastering JIRA 5.2, helping you design and implement issue tracking systems tailored for software teams. This book reflects Li's dedication to practical solutions, making complex project management accessible and efficient for both beginners and seasoned users.
2013·373 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Project Management, Software Development, Agile Development

Unlike most issue tracking books that merely skim the surface, Patrick Li dives deep into the practical setup and customization of JIRA 5.2, tailored specifically for software development teams. You’ll find detailed guidance on designing workflows, managing fields and screens, and leveraging plugins like GreenHopper for Agile practices. The book walks you through securing your data and configuring notifications to keep your team aligned. Whether you’re new to JIRA or looking to sharpen your expertise, chapters like business process integration and data querying offer concrete skills to streamline your project management.

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David Harned is the Vice President of the Enterprise PMO for Monotype and a driven leader in Agile methodologies. Holding certifications like Licensed Agile Coach and Certified ScrumMaster, he brings deep expertise in Scrum, Kanban, and Lean approaches. His book distills this experience to help you harness JIRA for managing complex software projects, emphasizing practical skills in issue tracking, reporting, and sprint management.
2018·158 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Agile Software Development, Project Management, Agile Development

David Harned draws from his extensive leadership in Agile project management to guide you through mastering JIRA for software development. You'll learn how to set up projects, manage backlogs, run Scrum sprints, and create detailed reports and dashboards that bring clarity to complex workflows. The book breaks down JIRA Query Language and issue handling, offering practical methods to track bugs, epics, and releases effectively. If you're an Agile administrator looking to optimize your team's issue and bug management with JIRA, this book offers focused insights without unnecessary jargon.

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Best for custom action plans
This AI-created book on issue tracking is tailored to your skill level and specific challenges. By sharing your background and goals, you get a book that focuses exactly on the aspects you want to master. Personalizing content in this way helps you avoid generic advice and gain insights that truly fit your workflow and team dynamics.
2025·50-300 pages·Issue Tracking, Bug Management, Workflow Customization, Collaborative Tools, Tracking Metrics

This personalized book on issue tracking explores battle-tested methods tailored to your unique challenges and workflow needs. It covers essential principles of managing software bugs, customizing tracking systems, and streamlining issue resolution processes. By focusing on your interests and background, this tailored guide reveals ways to combine popular, proven techniques with your specific context, helping you navigate common pitfalls and optimize your tracking efforts. The book examines key tools, collaborative approaches, and practical examples to sharpen your understanding and effectiveness in tracking issues.

Tailored Content
Tracking Optimization
3,000+ Books Created
Best for comprehensive JIRA 7 users
Patrick Li is the co-founder of AppFusions and a senior engineer with over nine years of experience in the Atlassian ecosystem. His expertise in enterprise application integration uniquely qualifies him to guide you through JIRA 7's capabilities. This book translates his deep technical knowledge into practical skills that help you manage projects, customize workflows, and leverage JIRA Service Desk for support operations.
2016·398 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Project Management, Agile, Workflow Customization

Drawing from over nine years in the Atlassian ecosystem, Patrick Li crafted this guide to help you harness the full power of JIRA 7 for managing projects and software issues. You'll learn how to set up a JIRA instance from scratch, customize workflows and screens, and effectively handle issues with tailored fields and security configurations. The book also covers the JIRA Service Desk add-on to run support portals, making it a practical manual for project managers, developers, and professionals beyond software development seeking to streamline business processes. Expect clear explanations and exercises that build your skills chapter by chapter.

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Best for Java Swing developers
This book offers a detailed examination of a web-based issue tracking system designed to detect bugs using Java Swing technology. Its practical approach to recording and managing bug data, including severity and reproduction steps, makes it a useful resource for software developers, IT help desks, and service providers looking to improve their issue resolution processes. The system’s focus on tracking bugs through their life cycle provides a structured methodology that benefits those responsible for maintaining software quality and reliability.
2010·116 pages·Issue Tracking, Java Swing, Bug Tracking, Defect Management, Software Development

Aroop Mukherjee's experience in software development led to this focused exploration of a web-based issue tracking system built with Java Swing. You learn how the system records detailed bug information, tracks the bug life cycle, and manages communication between users and developers effectively. The book dives into the challenges of designing such a system and presents practical solutions, especially emphasizing database management and user interface considerations. If you're involved in software maintenance, IT support, or development, this book offers insights into creating tools that streamline bug detection and resolution.

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Best for JIRA customization experts
This book stands out as a comprehensive resource for mastering JIRA extensions and customizations, blending practical programming approaches with user interface tweaks. It offers a structured path through plugin development, workflow management, and advanced JQL, catering to developers and administrators aiming to tailor JIRA to their teams' needs. By focusing on the nitty-gritty of issue tracking and project management enhancements, it fills a crucial niche for those looking to deepen their technical proficiency with JIRA's capabilities.
2013·491 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Plugin Development, Workflow Customization, User Interface

Drawing from extensive experience in software development tools, Jobin Kuruvilla crafted this guide to help you master JIRA extensions and customizations. You'll learn to create plugins, tailor the user interface, and manipulate workflows to optimize your issue tracking environment. The book delves into advanced JIRA Query Language (JQL) techniques, enabling precise issue searches and custom reporting through gadgets and filters. If you manage or develop within JIRA, this resource offers the technical depth needed to enhance your system's capabilities effectively.

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Best for rapid issue resolution
This AI-created book on issue tracking is tailored to your specific goals and background, focusing on achieving rapid results within 30 days. By honing in on the tracking aspects that matter most to you, it combines proven approaches with your personal workflow to create an effective, customized guide. Instead of generic advice, it offers a clear path with step-by-step actions designed to fit your needs and accelerate your progress reliably.
2025·50-300 pages·Issue Tracking, Workflow Design, Prioritization Techniques, Daily Tracking, Progress Monitoring

This tailored book explores a focused 30-day system designed to help you achieve rapid progress in issue tracking by combining widely validated knowledge with your unique context. It covers essential concepts and practical steps while matching your background and interests, ensuring the material is both relevant and actionable. The book examines key tracking techniques, personalized action sequences, and issue prioritization methods that align with your specific goals. Through a personalized narrative, it reveals how to implement a daily tracking rhythm with clear, step-by-step guidance to enhance your workflow effectiveness and problem resolution speed. This book’s tailored approach bridges proven insights and individual needs for a meaningful learning experience.

Tailored Guide
Personalized Tracking
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for advanced Jira 8 administrators
Patrick Li, cofounder of AppFusions and senior engineer with over a decade in the Atlassian ecosystem, brings a wealth of practical expertise to this guide. His background in developing integration solutions across industries like healthcare and finance informs the book's focus on deploying and customizing Jira for diverse business environments. This depth of experience positions the book as a valuable resource for mastering Jira's features and adapting them to real-world project tracking and issue management needs.
2022·412 pages·Issue Tracking, Jira, Project Management, Workflow Design, Field Management

Patrick Li's extensive experience in the Atlassian ecosystem shapes this detailed guide to Jira 8.21 and its Data Center capabilities. You learn how to architect and customize Jira instances, from setting up projects and workflows to optimizing fields and screens for various business needs. The book walks you through managing issues effectively, leveraging third-party apps, and securing your environment, with practical examples like creating custom dashboards and reports. If you're managing projects in software or other industries and want to harness Jira's full potential, this book provides clear, focused instruction without unnecessary jargon.

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Best for broad issue tracking strategies
In Issue Tracking A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition, Gerardus Blokdyk offers a structured approach to mastering issue tracking within software projects. The book’s detailed self-assessment framework and checklists reflect insights from experienced practitioners, helping you organize activities and ensure outcomes align with your goals. Its inclusion of a dynamic Excel dashboard for task prioritization adds practical value that benefits project managers and developers alike. This guide stands as a reliable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their issue tracking process and deliver consistent results in software development environments.
2021·298 pages·Issue Tracking, Project Management, Software Development, Workflow Optimization, Bug Tracking

Drawing from extensive experience in project management and software development, Gerardus Blokdyk crafted this guide to address the complex challenges of issue tracking. You’ll gain clarity on managing workflows for bugs and features, integrating communication channels, and streamlining processes to reduce effort and costs. The book’s self-assessment tools and checklists help you pinpoint exactly what needs attention, making it practical for project managers, developers, and team leads aiming to improve issue resolution efficiency. For example, its Excel dashboard offers a dynamic way to prioritize tasks, turning abstract problems into actionable plans.

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Proven Issue Tracking Methods, Personalized

Get tailored, expert-backed Issue Tracking strategies that fit your unique workflow and goals.

Customized workflows
Targeted solutions
Efficient tracking

Trusted by thousands of software professionals

Issue Tracking Blueprint
30-Day Tracking System
Agile Tracking Foundations
Success Code Secrets

Conclusion

This selection highlights three clear themes: practical mastery of JIRA’s evolving features, integration of Agile methodologies with issue tracking, and comprehensive strategies that address the broader challenges of bug and task management. If you prefer proven methods, start with Patrick Li’s detailed guides like "JIRA 8 Essentials" and "JIRA 5.2 Essentials" to build solid technical foundations.

For validated approaches that emphasize Agile practices, David Harned’s "Hands-On Agile Software Development with JIRA" pairs well with Jobin Kuruvilla’s customization cookbook for those seeking deeper technical tweaks. And if you're interested in the broader issue tracking landscape beyond JIRA, Gerardus Blokdyk’s "Issue Tracking A Complete Guide" offers valuable process insights.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Issue Tracking book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in managing complex projects more effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "JIRA 8 Essentials" by Patrick Li if you're new to JIRA or want the latest features. It offers clear guidance on setup and customization that applies widely.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Issue Tracking?

Not at all. Books like "JIRA 5.2 Essentials" and "Issue Tracking A Complete Guide" provide foundational knowledge that suits beginners and scales up with your experience.

What’s the best order to read these books?

Begin with broad guides like "JIRA 7 Essentials" or "Issue Tracking A Complete Guide" before moving to specialized titles like the "JIRA 5.x Development Cookbook" for customizations.

Should I start with the newest book or a classic?

Newer editions like "Jira 8 Essentials" cover updated features and best practices, but classics still provide valuable fundamentals, so a mix works best.

Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?

You can skip to chapters relevant to your needs, especially in technical books like the "Development Cookbook," which is structured for easy reference.

How can personalized books complement these expert titles?

Personalized books blend proven strategies from these experts with your unique workflow and goals, offering focused solutions. Consider creating your own Issue Tracking book to tailor insights precisely to your needs.

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