---
title: "Can I use an external issue tracker like Jira"
slug: "can-i-use-an-external-issue-tracker-like-jira"
description: "Learn how you can smoothly set up and utilize external issue trackers. "
updated: 2026-05-22T01:25:24Z
published: 2026-05-22T01:25:24Z
canonical: "learn.allspice.io/can-i-use-an-external-issue-tracker-like-jira"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.allspice.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Can I use an external issue tracker like Jira

## Using Jira as an External Issue Tracker

AllSpice supports redirecting its built-in issue tracker to Jira. When configured, engineers who click the **Issues** button in a repository are sent directly to your Jira board, and any Jira ticket IDs referenced in commit messages, Design Reviews, or comments automatically become clickable links.

This is the recommended setup for teams where Jira is already the cross-functional standard for tracking validation tasks, firmware coordination, and rework actions across disciplines.

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/3d44af5c-3f49-4ca5-b152-10836a885c13/Images/Documentation/image(194).png)

## Setting it up

Go to your repository → **Settings → Repository** → scroll to **Advanced Settings** and select **Use External Issue Tracker**. You'll see three fields.

### External Tracker URL

This is the URL users land on when they click the **Issues** button. Set it to your Jira board.

**Example:**

```
https://your-company.atlassian.net/jira/software/projects/ORTH/boards/2
```

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/3d44af5c-3f49-4ca5-b152-10836a885c13/Images/Documentation/Jira%20integration%20screenshot.png)

### External Tracker URL Format

This field controls how AllSpice generates direct links to individual Jira tickets when they are referenced in text. Use `{index}` as the placeholder — AllSpice replaces it with the ticket ID at render time.

**Example:**

```
https://your-company.atlassian.net/browse/{index}
```

> **Why `/browse/` and not the board URL?** The board URL only works in the context of that specific board. The `/browse/ORTH-18` URL works for any ticket in the project, regardless of which board or sprint it belongs to, and is the stable permalink Jira uses for sharing tickets.

### Issue ID Style

Select **Alphanumeric** for Jira. This tells AllSpice to recognize ticket IDs in the format `ORTH-18`, `ISS-1234`, etc. rather than plain numbers.

## Referencing Jira tickets in AllSpice

Once configured, you can reference Jira tickets anywhere in AllSpice — commit messages, Design Review descriptions, comments — by typing the ticket ID. AllSpice will automatically turn it into a hyperlink to your Jira instance.

**Example commit message:**

```
ORTH-18 Fix boost stability issue on rev C spin
```

**Example Design Review description:**

```
Closes ORTH-42. Validated signal integrity results against acceptance criteria.
See also ORTH-39 for the original schematic review findings.
```

### Distinguishing Jira tickets from Design Reviews

Because `#` references now point to Jira, use `!` to link to an AllSpice Design Review by number.

| Notation | Links to |
| --- | --- |
| `ORTH-18` | Jira ticket ORTH-18 |
| `#18` | Jira ticket #18 (numeric) |
| `!18` | AllSpice Design Review #18 |

This distinction matters most when a Design Review description or commit message on the `develop` branch needs to reference both a Jira ticket and the Design Review that resolves it.

## Recommended workflow

AllSpice uses a two-branch strategy — `main` for released designs and `develop` for active work. Here is how Jira references fit into that flow:

1. **Commit** — Push your changes to `develop`. Include the Jira ticket ID in your commit message so the work is traceable.
2. **Design Review** — When ready, open a Design Review from `develop` into `main`. Reference the relevant Jira tickets in the description.
3. **Release** — Once the Design Review is approved and merged into `main`, all Jira references in the commit history and Design Review description remain as a permanent audit trail.

## What this integration does and does not do

The External Issue Tracker setting is a **link-only** integration. It means:

- Clicking **Issues** redirects to Jira — it does not pull Jira tickets into AllSpice.
- AllSpice's built-in issue tracker is disabled for the repository once this setting is enabled.
- Jira ticket statuses are **not** automatically updated when a Design Review is opened or merged.

If your team wants Jira ticket statuses to update automatically based on AllSpice activity — for example, moving a ticket to *In Progress* when a branch is created, or *In Review* when a Design Review is opened — that is possible using AllSpice Actions. Contact your AllSpice account team to discuss setting this up.

## Example configuration summary

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| External Tracker URL | `https://your-company.atlassian.net/jira/software/projects/ORTH/boards/2` |
| External Tracker URL Format | `https://your-company.atlassian.net/browse/{index}` |
| Issue ID Style | Alphanumeric |