From Python Scripts to Forge Apps: An Atlassian Engineer’s Journey

In this session, Caterina Curti sits down with Atlassian Community Champion and Engineer, Nicola, to explore how automation can simplify the life of a Jira Administrator. Nicola shares his journey from product management to engineering, demonstrating how he uses Python scripts and Atlassian Forge apps to automate tedious manual tasks. Whether you are looking to audit your Jira workflows or build custom admin toolkits, this video provides practical insights into extending Jira's capabilities. Key Topics Covered: - Automating Jira audits with Python scripts - Building a "Jira Admin Toolkit" using Atlassian Forge - Project archival strategies and user role management - The transition from external scripts to native Forge apps - The future of "vibe coding" with AI-assisted development 0:00 – Welcome and Introduction to Nicola 2:39 – Nicola's background: From Product Management to Engineering 4:00 – Why automate? The Jira Admin's manual data challenge 6:12 – Deep Dive: Python script for Workflow and Screen auditing 10:08 – Running the script and analyzing CSV outputs 17:00 – Python vs. Forge: When to use each 19:00 – Showcase: The "Jira Admin Toolkit" Forge App 22:30 – Automating User Role assignments across multiple projects 27:40 – Project Assistant: Identifying and Archiving inactive projects 30:00 – Security Audit: Finding "Any Logged-in User" permissions 33:40 – Dashboard and Filter exposure tracking 40:00 – The experience of transitioning from Python to Forge 42:15 – The future of AI in Forge development ("Vibe Coding") 44:40 – Closing remarks What you'll learn - Audit Efficiency: How to programmatically identify which screens are attached to specific workflow transitions. - Forge Fundamentals: How to create a centralized admin dashboard to manage project security and schemes. - Clean Governance: Methods for identifying stale projects and archiving them to maintain Jira performance. - Bulk Management: Strategies for adding users to multiple project roles simultaneously. - AI-Assisted Development: Tips on using AI "friends" and tools like the AI App Builder to speed up your coding process. #atlassian #jiraadmin #atlassianforge #python #automation #softwaredevelopment #developeradvocacy