Start with api freeze. The entry pairs “Owner agreed” with “Ready”. That pairing is useful only when it is clear why the context supports the state. A backlog measures demand; it does not define a release. Unresolved dependencies are where schedules begin to drift.
Begin with the constraint
Write an exit criterion before setting a delivery date. Separate required work from attractive additions.
Example: API freeze
The illustrative record contains owner agreed. Its state is ready. Ask what evidence supports that state, which detail is still uncertain and whether the next person could understand it without reading a separate message thread.
Questions for a working review
- Define the decision the reader needs to make. For api freeze, use “Owner agreed” as the starting context.
- Find the source behind the example record. For api freeze, use “Owner agreed” as the starting context.
- Write down the open question before choosing a state. For api freeze, use “Owner agreed” as the starting context.
A small exercise
Take one recent release planning example from your own process. Write its context without using a status label, then add the label separately. If the two contradict each other, investigate the source before updating the record. Compare the result with “Migration” in the demonstration to see which distinctions your process needs.
These are planning notes. The specimen is illustrative, and the preview does not process live work.
More field notes →