I tried OpenProject and Vikunja. Then I built Agila.

Description and use

A small team built Agila to replace heavyweight tools like OpenProject and Vikunja. Agila is a lightweight, fast, open‑source Kanban system suitable for small teams.

Problem

Small teams need lightweight, flexible Kanban tools that fit their workflow without heavy ceremony.

Outcome

Agila provided a lightweight, flexible Kanban workflow that matched the team's needs, outperforming existing tools in drag‑and‑drop speed and usability with large boards.

Workflow

• 1. Start with a Google Sheet to track tasks. 2. Evaluate OpenProject for Kanban needs. 3. Switch to Vikunja for a lighter alternative. 4. Identify gaps in both tools. 5. Use AI‑assisted coding to build minimal Kanban features. 6. Expand the side project into Agila. 7. Add features: real‑time updates, soft WIP, optional sprints, SSO, AI agent, multiple views, role‑based access. 8. Stress‑test with ~200 cards for drag‑and‑drop performance. 9. Release Agila as open‑source and hosted service.

Evidence

We stress-tested Agila with ~200 cards and spent time actually dragging them around — across columns and up/down long boards.

Source

Agila is a collaborative Kanban workspace with real‑time updates, soft WIP, optional sprints, Google / GitHub / Microsoft 365 SSO, and an optional AI agent that uses your API key.

Source