JXCirrus Project for Mac

JXCirrus Project for Mac is a versatile project management program that helps you keep track of progress and plan out realistic timelines. With the automated planning feature that this program provides, you'll have plenty of help to make sure all your projects will be completed on schedule.

Pros

Good tutorial: There is a lot going on in this app, so the thorough walk-through really helps you get the hang of all the features and controls quickly. Depending on your level of familiarity with this type of program, you can opt for the full tutorial or just a short overview. No matter which option you choose, you'll also benefit from the opportunity to explore the preloaded sets of example data to see how a project will look when it's all entered in.

Continuous replanning: Not only does this app create a timeline for your project based on the data you originally enter, but it also readjusts that timeline every time you make a change. When you mark a task complete or add another resource, JXCirrus Project will recalculate to provide more accurate completion projections for the entire project.

Cons

Cramped interface: This program can do a lot, and the interface is set up so that you can see everything at once all the time. That's not always ideal, however, and it makes for a cluttered and confusing look at times. The tutorial is a big help when you're trying to get the hang of the controls, but even when you know where everything is, the interface can be jarring to look at. One main reason for this is that the main window is split in two sections, but unless you have a very large screen, you won't be able to see all of what's in either section at any given point without scrolling horizontally.

Bottom Line

JXCirrus Project for Mac is a useful and convenient piece of software. It provides all of the features promised, and while the interface may leave a few things to be desired, it's overall a very good free app.