The Issue Panel & Timeline

The Issue Context Panel provides direct access to range estimates right on your Jira issue view. It visualizes the relationship between your estimated boundaries and actual logged time using a dual-bar timeline widget.

Anatomy of the Estimate Diagram

The visual timeline displays two stacked horizontal bars:

• Top Bar (Estimate Bounds):
  • Dark Segment: Represents the Low Estimate (optimistic baseline).
  • Mid Segment: Extends from the Low Estimate to the High Estimate, visually representing the estimate range and uncertainty spread.
• Bottom Bar (Actual Logged Work):
  • A solid progress bar representing the total time logged on this task (including time logged on any subtasks).
• Vertical Markers & Labels: Positioned ticks mark the Low and High boundaries with formatted labels.

Color Indicators & Statuses

The timeline bar dynamically adjusts its color palette based on health and completion status:

• Blue (In Progress): Normal operational state for active or open tasks within healthy estimate boundaries.
• Red (Error): Displays when a task's subtask estimates exceed the parent's estimate (Subtasks Estimate Too High).
• Orange / Yellow (Warning): Displays when an issue is unestimated, or when total logged work exceeds the High estimate (Exceeding High).
• Grey / Neutral (Done): Displays once an issue is transitioned into a Done status category.

Open Tasks vs. Completed Tasks

The information shown inside the issue panel adapts to the issue's lifecycle:

When an Issue is In Progress (or To Do):

• Task's Estimate: Displays the current Low to High range (e.g. 2d to 4d). Clicking this value opens the inline editor.
• Subtasks Breakdown: If subtasks exist, displays the combined total of subtask estimates and an allocation status message.
• Logged Work: Shows a transparent breakdown of time spent On Task vs. time spent On Subtasks, as well as the Total Logged.
• Remaining Estimate: Calculates the remaining range boundaries in real-time:
  Remaining Low = max(0, Low - Total Logged)
Remaining High = max(0, High - Total Logged)

When an Issue is Marked Done:

• Original Estimate: Preserves the baseline range set prior to completion.
• Final Logged Work: Shows final total time logged on the issue and its subtasks.
• Variance Message: Evaluates estimation accuracy upon completion:
  • 🟢 Under Low Estimate: 1d under low estimate (completed faster than optimistic floor).
  • 🔴 Over High Estimate: 4h over high estimate (exceeded worst-case ceiling).
  • 🔵 Within Estimate: Within estimate (1d remaining to high) (delivered within expected range).