Retro
A real-time retrospective tool for agile teams built with Phoenix LiveView, featuring vote-based prioritization, moderation tools, and comprehensive email workflows.
Retro
A full-stack retrospective tool designed specifically for small agile teams and facilitators. Built with Phoenix LiveView for real-time collaboration, it focuses on improving the quality and usability of team retrospectives through thoughtful design and powerful moderation features.
Key Features
Real-time Collaboration
- Live updates using Phoenix LiveView - no JavaScript frameworks needed
- Support for multiple retrospective formats (Start/Stop/Continue, Mad/Sad/Glad, 4Ls)
- Vote-based prioritization with configurable quotas
- Real-time participant engagement
Facilitator-First Design
- Comprehensive moderation tools with full audit trails
- Card editing, merging, flagging, and hiding capabilities
- Retro lifecycle management (draft → preparing → active → closed → archived)
- Private team spaces with role-based access control
Smart Email Workflows
- Powered by Swoosh and Postmark for reliable delivery
- Registration, invitations, and summary emails
- Tracked delivery status with webhook integration
- Optional reminder and digest flows
Export & Analytics
- Export retrospectives in Markdown, PDF, and styled HTML
- Long-term trend tracking across multiple retros
- Moderation logs for transparency and potential undo functionality
Technical Architecture
Built with a modern Elixir stack emphasizing real-time capabilities and maintainability:
- Backend: Elixir + Phoenix LiveView for real-time features
- Authentication: Phoenix’s built-in
phx.gen.auth
- Database: PostgreSQL with comprehensive schemas for users, retros, cards, votes, and moderation
- Styling: Tailwind CSS for responsive design
- Email: Swoosh + Postmark with webhook tracking
- Deployment: Designed for Fly.io hosting
Business Model
The tool features a freemium model with thoughtful conversion strategies:
- Free Tier: Up to 3 users, 2 retros/month, basic features
- Pro Tier: $29/month for unlimited users and retros, full exports, trend digests
- Consultant Tier: $19/month for solo facilitators working with multiple organizations
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with SSO, branding, and SLAs
Current Status
The project includes a comprehensive Product Requirements Document and is actively under development. The architecture emphasizes privacy-first design with no public listings or required integrations, making it ideal for sensitive team discussions.
The marketing site is integrated directly into the Phoenix application, providing a seamless experience from discovery to usage.
This project demonstrates full-stack Elixir development with real-time features, complex business logic, and thoughtful user experience design.