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dotProject
GPL-2.0Self-hosted project management and Gantt scheduling system in PHP, offering task tracking, client directories, and time logs on your own server.
Open-source alternative to — compare it against:
Overview
Originating on SourceForge in 2001 and steered by volunteer maintainers since late 2002, dotProject packages classic project scheduling, milestones, and Gantt charts into a self-hosted PHP application. The system manages client companies, hierarchical task trees, and internal forums from a single MySQL database without external background daemons. It gives technical teams direct operational control over multi-project timelines on standard LAMP infrastructure.
Why dotProject instead of Microsoft Project
dotProject approaches project planning as a shared web portal rather than a desktop application. Where Microsoft Project historically required per-seat desktop licenses, Windows Server instances, or SharePoint infrastructure for team collaboration, dotProject runs on standard Linux environments with Apache and MariaDB. It gives operations leads centralized logins, role permissions, and company groupings out of the box. However, it lacks Microsoft Project's advanced calculation engine, omitting automated resource leveling, baseline tracking, and critical path scheduling.
Self-hosting dotProject eliminates recurring subscription fees, keeping client records, schedules, and work logs on private infrastructure. Backups require only standard database dumps and directory archiving for uploaded files. In exchange, the operational burden shifts entirely to the administrator. The application relies on older PHP conventions and server-side image generation rather than reactive browser interfaces, requiring teams migrating from Microsoft Project to accept static tabular forms and maintain a legacy runtime stack.
What it does well
- Multi-company hierarchy: isolates client accounts, internal departments, and external contacts within distinct workspaces without separate database instances.
- Hierarchical task breakdowns: structures deliverables into parent and child tasks with completion percentages and milestone target dates.
- Server-side Gantt charts: generates timeline and dependency graphics using JpGraph, giving teams a scheduling overview without heavy client-side JavaScript.
- Work logs and trouble tickets: pairs hourly time tracking with an internal issue queue to audit delivery hours against client bug reports.
- Granular permission matrices: enforces module-level and project-level access controls across staff members, contractors, and client observers.
