Build a public roadmap
Show users what you're building. A public roadmap builds trust. Users can see what's planned, in progress, and complete, and follow updates on features they care about.
How It Works
The roadmap displays posts grouped by status in a kanban-style layout. Each column represents a status you've marked as "Show on Roadmap" in your status settings.
Users can:
- See what's coming next
- Vote on planned features
- Subscribe to get notified when items ship
Only posts you've explicitly added to a roadmap appear here. Not everything needs to be public. You control what's visible.
Create a roadmap
You can have multiple roadmaps for different purposes (e.g., "Product Roadmap", "API Roadmap").
- Go to Admin → Roadmap
- Click the + button in the sidebar
- Fill in the details:
- Name - Display name (e.g., "Product Roadmap")
- Description - Optional description
- Public - Toggle visibility to users
- Click Create
Add posts to the roadmap
From a Post's Detail Page
- Open a post in Admin → Feedback
- In the Properties panel, find the Roadmaps section
- Click "Add"
- Select which roadmap to add the post to
Using Drag and Drop
Once posts are on a roadmap, you can drag them between columns to change their status:
- Click and hold a post card
- Drag to the target status column
- Release to update
The post's status updates automatically.
This is the fastest way to update multiple posts at once. Great for sprint planning sessions!
Remove a post from roadmap
- Open the post in the detail page
- In the Roadmaps section, click the X on the roadmap badge
The post stays in Quackback. It's just not shown on the roadmap anymore.
Roadmap Visibility
Each roadmap can be public or private:
| Setting | Who can see it |
|---|---|
| Public | Everyone visiting your portal |
| Private | Only team members (indicated by lock icon) |
Use a private roadmap for internal planning, then move items to your public roadmap when you're ready to announce them.
Configure columns
The roadmap columns are determined by which statuses have "Show on Roadmap" enabled.
- Go to Admin → Settings → Statuses
- Use the toggle next to each status to enable/disable roadmap visibility
- You must select exactly 3 statuses
- Click Save changes
Most teams use: Planned → In Progress → Complete
What Users See
On your public roadmap, users can see:
- Post title
- Vote count
- Status badge
- Brief description preview
Users do NOT see:
- Internal notes
- Team comments
- Assignment details
Best Practices
Keep It Updated
An outdated roadmap undermines trust. Regularly:
- Move completed items to "Complete"
- Add newly planned items
- Remove items that won't happen
Show Meaningful Items Only
Don't clutter the roadmap with minor tasks. Focus on:
- Major features
- Popular requests (high vote count)
- Significant improvements
Avoid Specific Dates
Unless you're certain, avoid committing to dates. Instead use:
- "Planned" for committed items
- Quarterly goals rather than specific dates
- "Exploring" for ideas still under consideration
Celebrate Completed Items
Keep recently completed items visible temporarily:
- Users see progress happening
- Builds confidence in your team
- Archive old completed items periodically
Communicate Changes
When plans change (and they will):
- Update the roadmap promptly
- Add comments to affected posts explaining why
- Notify subscribers of significant shifts
Edit a roadmap
- Hover over a roadmap in the sidebar
- Click the ... menu button
- Select Edit
- Update name, description, or visibility
- Click Save
Delete a roadmap
- Hover over a roadmap in the sidebar
- Click the ... menu button
- Select Delete
- Confirm deletion
Deleting a roadmap removes posts from that roadmap but does not delete the posts themselves. They're still in your feedback inbox.
Link from Your Product
Drive engagement by linking to your roadmap from your app:
- Footer links
- Help menu
- Feature request buttons
This turns your roadmap into a living communication channel with users.
Next Steps
- Statuses - Configure which statuses appear on roadmaps
- Inbox - Manage feedback and add posts to roadmaps
- Integrations - Get notified on status changes