Request Kanban

Overview

iDempiere Request Module – Kanban Extension

Plugin for iDempiere's built-in Request module, adding a Kanban board interface.

Note: This article describes the usability challenges of iDempiere's built-in Request module and the design decisions behind the Kanban plugin developed to address them.

Overview

iDempiere ships with a built-in Request module (R_Request), a ticket and request tracker for ERP workflows. It is feature-complete, but the interface exposes a large number of fields and tabs, making it difficult to approach for everyday use.

This plugin adds a Kanban board layer in front of the existing module — no new database tables, no schema changes, just a more approachable entry point.

Problem Statement

Observation	Detail
Fully functional	Search, filter, and status transitions all work correctly
Complex interface	Main window contains many fields across multiple nested tabs
Operational fatigue	Each action requires extra clicks and context-switching, accumulating over time

Note: The module itself has no defects. The problem is the distance between it and the user.

Design Decisions

No New Database Tables

• All data is read directly from the existing R_Request table
• 

  Attachment Panel
  iDempiere upgrades will not conflict with any buried schema changes
• Zero additional maintenance surface

Real-Time Updates via OSGi EventAdmin

• Uses the platform's built-in EventAdmin event bus for live card updates
• No external dependencies introduced

Permission-Gated Drag-and-Drop

• Only the SalesRep or the Requester of a record may drag their own cards
• Prevents uncontrolled status changes from becoming support tickets

Features

Kanban Board View

Kanban Board

Cards are arranged in columns by status. Authorized users can drag cards between columns to update status directly.

List View

List View

A tabbed table grouped by status, for users who prefer a traditional interface.

Gantt View

Gantt Chart

Attribute	Detail
Purpose	Progress visibility for management
Timeline granularity	Auto-adjusting: day / week / month
Displayed data	Start date and due date for each Request
Primary audience	Project managers and stakeholders

Note: The Gantt chart is a governance artifact. It gives managers a visual sense of control. It is not intended for engineers.

Technical Reference

Item	Detail
Platform	iDempiere OSGi
Data source	R_Request (native table, no added columns)
Real-time mechanism	OSGi EventAdmin
Access control	Role-based: SalesRep / Requester

Chat History

Source Code

• GitHub: github.com/ray-idempiere/tw.idempiere.requestkanban

See Also

• iDempiere Request Module – official documentation
• OSGi EventAdmin specification