Write Ticket Comments Like It’s 2025
If you’ve worked with me, you know I value frequent, clear communication. I like our updates to flow like CNN and The Weather Channel: constant, relevant, and visible. One of the most effective ways to achieve this in software delivery teams is through well-written ticket comments.1
Ticket comments aren’t just a formality. They are a vital information stream that keeps team members, stakeholders, and leadership aligned. In our increasingly hybrid and remote working environments, asynchronous clarity is critical.
Why Write Ticket Comments?
1. Transparency Is Non-Negotiable
Transparency is one of the pillars of Scrum. Everyone involved including developers, leadership, and stakeholders, should be able to understand the current state of work at a glance. Ticket comments provide a lightweight, low-friction way to document progress and decision-making in real time.
2. Mitigate Team Disruptions
People get sick, go on vacation, or get pulled into urgent work. Good ticket comments ensure that work can continue seamlessly. They give others the ability to pick up where you left off without redoing completed tasks or missing critical steps.
3. Unblock Yourself (and Others)
Comments serve as a breadcrumb trail through your problem-solving process. They help others understand what’s been done, what’s left, and where help is needed. When pairing or seeking support, this context accelerates problem-solving.
How to Write Great Ticket Comments
Provide Context
- Restate the task in your own words.
- Summarize what’s been done and what remains.
- Share your next steps and implementation plan.
- Leave a clear “note to self” so you can quickly pick up the thread later.
Raise Questions Thoughtfully
- Ask specific, concise questions: yes/no is ideal.
- Tag the person who needs to respond.
- Offer your understanding of the issue and your proposed solution.
- Number multiple questions so they’re easy to respond to.
- If the next step is on someone else, assign the ticket and notify your team or Scrum Master.
Support the Next Developer
- Leave clear notes for whoever picks the ticket up next.
- Include any necessary testing notes or edge cases.
- Mention related tickets or dependencies.
- Flag any areas where follow-up is needed or where something “feels off.”
When to Add Ticket Comments
You can’t over-communicate, but you can under-document. Here’s when to make commenting a habit:
- At kickoff: Within a few hours of picking up the ticket, describe your approach.
- When pausing: If work stalls due to blockers, priority shifts, or context switches, log it.
- At key milestones: When you create a pull request, move to QA, or reach stakeholder review.
- When you gain new info: Decisions from meetings, Slack chats, or hallway conversations must be recorded in the ticket.
- When tickets intersect: If your work touches or is blocked by another story, cross-link and explain the relationship.
- When you’re blocked: Don’t silently spin your wheels. Say so, and call in the team.
- When something feels off: If anything doesn’t seem right, trust your instinct. Leave a comment and tag someone to confirm.
Direct Communication Still Matters
A final note: tagging someone in a ticket is not a substitute for reaching out. Agile principles remind us that the most effective communication is face-to-face, or at least synchronous. If you need help, support, or feedback, ping them directly. Let the ticket document the work, not drive it.
In Closing
Comments are more than notes. They’re how we keep our work visible, our teams aligned, and our progress transparent. In 2025, this practice is more critical than ever. Good comments don’t just help us move faster; they help us work better together.
agile best practices communication jira jira comments ticket comments transparency
Write Ticket Comments Like It’s 2025
If you’ve worked with me, you know I value frequent, clear communication. I like our updates to flow like CNN and The Weather Channel: constant, relevant, and visible. One of the most effective ways to achieve this in software delivery teams is through well-written ticket comments.1
Ticket comments aren’t just a formality. They are a vital information stream that keeps team members, stakeholders, and leadership aligned. In our increasingly hybrid and remote working environments, asynchronous clarity is critical.
Why Write Ticket Comments?
1. Transparency Is Non-Negotiable
Transparency is one of the pillars of Scrum. Everyone involved including developers, leadership, and stakeholders, should be able to understand the current state of work at a glance. Ticket comments provide a lightweight, low-friction way to document progress and decision-making in real time.
2. Mitigate Team Disruptions
People get sick, go on vacation, or get pulled into urgent work. Good ticket comments ensure that work can continue seamlessly. They give others the ability to pick up where you left off without redoing completed tasks or missing critical steps.
3. Unblock Yourself (and Others)
Comments serve as a breadcrumb trail through your problem-solving process. They help others understand what’s been done, what’s left, and where help is needed. When pairing or seeking support, this context accelerates problem-solving.
How to Write Great Ticket Comments
Provide Context
Raise Questions Thoughtfully
Support the Next Developer
When to Add Ticket Comments
You can’t over-communicate, but you can under-document. Here’s when to make commenting a habit:
Direct Communication Still Matters
A final note: tagging someone in a ticket is not a substitute for reaching out. Agile principles remind us that the most effective communication is face-to-face, or at least synchronous. If you need help, support, or feedback, ping them directly. Let the ticket document the work, not drive it.
In Closing
Comments are more than notes. They’re how we keep our work visible, our teams aligned, and our progress transparent. In 2025, this practice is more critical than ever. Good comments don’t just help us move faster; they help us work better together.
agile best practices communication jira jira comments ticket comments transparency