# Kanban Board
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164
**Category:** Theme component
**Tags:** pr-welcome, official, kanban-board
**Created:** [May 19, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164 "2019-05-19T19:58:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/1 "2019-05-19T19:58:42Z")
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| :discourse2: | **Summary** | **Kanban Board** allows you to display and organise topics using a kanban board interface. |
| đ | **Preview** | [Preview on Discourse Theme Creator](https://discourse.theme-creator.io/theme/Discourse/kanban-board) |
| đ | **Repository Link** | [https://github.com/discourse/discourse-kanban-theme](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-kanban-theme) |
| đ | **New to Discourse Themes?** | [Beginnerâs guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) |
Install this theme component
> [@](#):
>
> :discourse2: As this is an #official theme component maintained by the Discourse team, #Support, #Contribute > Bug, #Contribute > UX, and #Contribute > Feature requests can be made in the respective categories here on Meta, and tagged with the appropriate theme component tag. Click on a link below to get one started. đ
>
> [â **Support**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=6&tags=kanban-board "Ask for support on configuring and using Kanban Board") [đ **Bug**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=1&tags=kanban-board "A bug report means something is broken, preventing normal/typical use of the theme component") [đ **UX**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=9&tags=kanban-board "Discussion about the user interface of Kanban Board, and how features are presented (including language and UI elements)") [đĄ **Feature**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=2&tags=kanban-board "Discussion about how existing Kanban Board features can be improved or enhanced, and how proposed new features could work")
> đŁ Kanban boards have now been shipped as a core Discourse plugin, see [Try out the new Boards feature for roadmaps and collaboration](https://meta.discourse.org/t/try-out-the-new-boards-feature-for-roadmaps-and-collaboration/411418) . This is available to our customers on our Business and Enterprise plans.
> :discourse2: **Hosted by us?** Theme components are available to use on our Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans.
## Summary
The Kanban Board theme component transforms how you organize and visualize your forum topics. It provides a drag-and-drop interface that lets you move topics between different columns representing categories, tags, or user assignments, making it ideal for project management, workflow visualization, and content organization.
## Features
### Multiple organization modes
The Kanban Board offers three different modes to organize your topics:
1. **Categories mode** : Organize topics by their assigned categories
2. **Tags mode** : Organize topics by their assigned tags
3. **Assignment mode** : Organize topics by the users theyâre assigned to
You can drag topics between lists to automatically change the corresponding attributes:
[https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/d/5/d520d87be01637757b6515a07b8b5d7e7456cc80.mp4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/d/5/d520d87be01637757b6515a07b8b5d7e7456cc80.mp4)
### Performance optimized
Lists are âlazy-loaded,â which means the component only loads content as needed. This ensures reasonable performance even when dealing with large numbers of categories or topics.
[https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/d/f/df544b018996a41b9cbd3091f05256c1c68e9273.mp4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/d/f/df544b018996a41b9cbd3091f05256c1c68e9273.mp4)
## Setup and configuration
### Default board mode selection
The default board mode will be automatically determined using these criteria:
- If this is the top level, use **categories** mode
- If this is a category, and there are sub-categories, use **categories mode**
- Otherwise, use **tags** mode. (Lists built from âtop tagsâ list)
### Changing the board mode
You can change the board mode using the filter button on the left, and configuration changes will be reflected in the URL. Users can bookmark their favorite configuration in their browser.
### Settings
Site administrators can customize the default settings of the theme component through the themeâs settings:
> **Summary**
>
> | Setting | Description |
> | --- | --- |
> | Display categories | A list of categories where the âBoardâ button should appear. If left blank, it will be shown everywhere. For subcategories, _donât_ include parent slug. Use @ to denote the top level view. |
> | Default modes | Override the default board mode for each category. Use the syntax category:mode:params. For example, support:assigned:david,sam,joffrey. Use @ in place of category to denote the top level view (e.g. `@:tags:todo,done`). Use @untagged to display an untagged column. |
> | Default view | A list of categories where the âBoardâ is the default view. (Note: Does not yet support the top level default view) |
> | Require confirmation | Display a confirmation modal before making changes to a topicâs tags/category |
> | Show tags | Show tags on topic cards |
> | Card style | Determine the visual style of topic cards (currently âdetailedâ is available) |
> | Show topic thumbnail | Display the topic thumbnail at the bottom of the card |
> | Show activity indicators | Display an indicator of a cardâs activity. Different styles will be applied if the topic has been bumped more than 7 days ago or more than 20 days ago |
>
> Defaults for each setting are shown below:
>
> 
### Text customizations
Administrators [can customize the text labels](https://meta.discourse.org/t/customize-text-in-discourse/36092) used throughout the Kanban board interface. The following text elements can be customized:
> **Summary**
>
> | Translation | Default | Description |
> | --- | --- | --- |
> | no\_topics | no topics | Displayed when a column has no topics |
> | confirm\_change\_tags | Remove â#%{remove}â and add â#%{add}â to â%{title}â? | Confirmation message when changing tags |
> | confirm\_close | Close topic â%{title}â? | Confirmation when closing a topic |
> | confirm\_open | Reopen topic â%{title}â? | Confirmation when reopening a topic |
> | confirm\_change\_category | Move topic â%{title}â? | Confirmation when changing a topicâs category |
> | menu\_label | Board | Text for the board navigation menu item |
> | copy\_link | Copy link to clipboard | Tooltip for copying a link |
> | configure | Configure kanban board | Text for configuration button |
> | fullscreen | Toggle fullscreen | Text for fullscreen toggle button |
> | no\_lists | No Kanban lists configured⌠| Shown when no lists are configured |
> | controls | Kanban Board Controls | Header for controls section |
> | last\_post\_by | Last post by | Label for last poster information |
> | modal.title | Configure Kanban | Title of configuration modal |
> | modal.tags\_placeholder | Tags to display⌠| Placeholder for tags input field |
> | modal.categories\_placeholder | Categories to display⌠| Placeholder for categories input field |
> | modal.usernames\_placeholder | Users to display⌠| Placeholder for users input field |
> | modal.apply | Apply | Text for apply button |
> | modal.mode | Board Mode | Label for board mode selector |
> | modal.lists | Lists | Label for lists configuration section |
## Tips for effective use
### Setting up tag columns
For the most intuitive setup in tags mode, organize your tags in a [tag group with âonly one tag from this groupâ enabled](https://meta.discourse.org/t/tags-category-restrictions-tag-groups-relationships/48260). This ensures topics can only have one status tag, making the kanban board function like a traditional workflow board.
### Controlling column order in tags mode
You can specify the exact order of columns using the `default modes` setting. For example, specifying `roadmap:tags:discovery,design,build,testing` will display columns in that specific order:
### Empowering your users
As the mechanism for moving topics between kanban columns is by changing the tag, you have to ensure that your target users can actually do this. Options:
1. Ensure your target users are @staff, @trust\_level\_4, or category moderators
2. Alter the `post edit time` site settings (this allows users to be able to change the title / tags for their own topics for a much longer time)
3. Make all the topics wikis (they will need to edit the wiki to change the tag though, which isnât great)
## Frequently asked questions
### Can I use the kanban board on mobile devices?
The drag-and-drop functionality currently doesnât work on mobile devices because they donât support HTML5 drag and drop. You can still view the board on mobile, but you wonât be able to move cards between columns.
### Why does the board tab disappear after I set it up?
If the board tab disappears after initial configuration, you may need to ensure youâve correctly entered the category names in the theme settings. Be sure to use the exact category slug (with underscores rather than dashes if applicable) and configure both parent categories and subcategories separately.
### How do I limit which tags are shown site-wide?
You can configure which tags appear in the tags mode using the `default modes` setting. Specify exactly which tags should appear as columns to prevent all tags from showing up.
### How do I change the card appearance?
You can customize the appearance of cards using several settings:
- Use the âCard styleâ setting to select the display format
- Enable or disable tags on cards with the âShow tagsâ option
- Add thumbnails to cards with âShow topic thumbnailâ setting
- Add visual activity indicators with âShow activity indicatorsâ setting
### #pr-welcome features:
- make the lists more configurable. e.g. allow administrators to define a combination of assignment, tags, and categories in one display
- Add support for dragging cards on mobile devices. Unfortunately, they donât support [html drag and drop](https://www.w3schools.com/html/html5_draganddrop.asp)
> Last edited by @martin 2026-09-02T07:13:05Z
>
> > **Check document**
> >
> > Perform check on document:
---
### Author:  [@tobiaseigen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tobiaseigen)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2025, 2:14pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/290 "2025-06-10T14:14:02Z")
---
### Author:  [@Falco](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Falco)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/291 "2026-01-07T17:06:43Z")
---
### Author:  [@satonotdead](https://meta.discourse.org/u/satonotdead)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/292 "2026-02-18T16:15:46Z")
This plugin was improved a lot, thanks to the Core Team for getting into this!
Iâd like to suggest adding an option to **always display a specific pinned topic at the top of the Kanban table**.
This would help ensure important information `(how to use 'support')` stays visible to all users, even when using the Kanban view.
---
### Author:  [@ChrisBeach](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ChrisBeach)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/293 "2026-03-18T16:30:27Z")
Could you please clarify what âdefault modesâ setting should be if Iâm using tags (not categories) on my board?
This is from the documentation and itâs unclear:
> [@Discourse](#):
>
> Override the default board mode for each category. Use the syntax category:mode:params. For example, support:assigned:david,sam,joffrey. Use @ to denote the top level view. Use @untagged to display an untagged column.
Basically, I have two tags (#todo and #done) and want a kanban board that shows posts tagged with either of these, from posts in any category.
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/294 "2026-03-18T16:46:51Z")
I think `@:tags:todo,done` should do what you want
---
### Author:  [@ChrisBeach](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ChrisBeach)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/295 "2026-03-18T16:48:00Z")
That worked! Thanks @Moin
Edit: I have updated the docs in the OP to make this clearer
---
### Author:  [@ShizukuYae](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ShizukuYae)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/296 "2026-03-21T15:46:32Z")
Hello,
Thanks for the great work on the plugin.
Is there any way currently in the configuration in tags mode, where I can just display cards from the category but not the subcategory?
---
### Author:  [@Lew\_Grothe](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lew_Grothe)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/297 "2026-04-11T22:32:48Z")
Beginning to look into moving to Horizon theme â any idea as to Kanban theme component compatibility? Itâs not on the list and I sort of presume it wonât be in that Horizon is very opinionated in ways that would be hard to handle the new UI in a sane way.
If not, is there a way to fork the Kanban component to something that could work with Horizon?
---
### Author:  [@mcwumbly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/mcwumbly)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/298 "2026-04-11T23:25:48Z")
It should work pretty well with Horizon.
---
### Author:  [@Lew\_Grothe](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lew_Grothe)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/299 "2026-04-12T15:07:02Z")
Just brought up Horizon on my dev machine and Kanban is not working at all - was working before with default theme (from several releases ago). Probably just some admin thing but thought Iâd askâŚ
Iâll investigate furtherâŚ
---
### Author:  [@Arkshine](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Arkshine)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/300 "2026-04-12T18:31:06Z")
I gave it a try and Itâs working on my side.
A few thing you can check:
- Is the component attached to the theme?
- do you see any error in the browser console?
---
### Author:  [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/301 "2026-04-12T22:46:23Z")
> [@mcwumbly](#):
>
> It should work pretty well with Horizon.
Iâve been using it pretty happily with Horizon.
I recall that I needed to tweak it a bit in order to get a wider view of the Kanban though, as Horizon is a bit tight horizontally in the middle. This is the CSS I used:
```css
// Allows Kanban view to take up whole width of main container and controls the column width
@media (min-width: 40rem) {
body.kanban-active:not(.has-full-page-chat,.wizard) #main-outlet-wrapper #main-outlet>*:not(.experimental-screen,.activate-account) {
max-width: none;
}
}
.discourse-kanban-container .discourse-kanban-list {
width: 350px;
}
```
---
### Author:  [@Andrew\_Rowe](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Andrew_Rowe)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/302 "2026-09-08T23:37:45Z")
A post was merged into an existing topic: [Discourse Boards](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-boards/411414/6)
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/303 "2026-09-08T22:55:30Z")
> [@Discourse Boards](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-boards/411414/6):
>
> This is an amazing new feature.
Can you clarify which new feature you are talking about? There have been no changes to this component. Is this feedback about the new plugin: [Discourse Boards](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-boards/411414)?
---
### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/304 "2026-09-17T14:32:30Z")
When I click on the **Display categories** & **Default view** boxes, should a list of my categories be shown to choose from?
Right now, thatâs not happening. Even when I start to type the name of any of my current categories it doesnât auto-complete.
It will allow me to create new names in those fields, but when I do, the _Board_ button disappears from every category, including the one I want it displayed in.
Any idea what Iâm doing wrong?
David
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/305 "2026-09-17T14:48:20Z")
> [@tknospdr](#):
>
> should a list of my categories be shown to choose from?
The settings are not coded in a way that they offer a list of categories. The problem with that would be that entering something that isnât a category like `@` in the `display categories` setting for top level view wouldnât be possible.
I am not sure what you are doing wrong without more information. Would you mind sharing an example? Without that, my advice would be to check again if you entered the slug of the category correctly:
> [@Discourse](#):
>
> ### Why does the board tab disappear after I set it up?
>
> If the board tab disappears after initial configuration, you may need to ensure youâve correctly entered the category names in the theme settings. Be sure to use the exact category slug (with underscores rather than dashes if applicable) and configure both parent categories and subcategories separately
---
### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/306 "2026-09-17T14:55:28Z")
It seems to have corrected itself. The changes didnât reflect until I logged out and back in.
That may just be a coincidence, but now itâs showing correctly in the only category I want it in.
đ¤ˇââď¸
David
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/307 "2026-09-17T14:58:51Z")
Itâs great that itâs working now!
---
### Author:  [@tknospdr](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tknospdr)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164/308 "2026-09-17T15:17:55Z")
I do have a new question thoughâŚ
I keep going into the **Configure kanban board** , choosing tags, selecting tags, and clicking save. Then it shows what Iâd expect:
But then when I navigate away from the category and go back, it forgets the tags itâs supposed to show and I canât drag anything as I should be able to:
[Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/kanban-board/118164.md?page=2)