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.