FREE Software Development Roadmap Template
Master software development roadmap timelines with our intuitive software development roadmap Gantt chart template.
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Why use our Software Development Roadmap instead of Excel or Google Sheets?
Get started with our Software Development Roadmap in seconds while skipping the hassle involved with Excel or Google Sheets.
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Move at the pace of modern business with no learning curve or Googling formulas.
Good luck figuring out how to make a Gantt chart work in Excel or Google Sheets. Excel’s user manual weighs in at a hefty 500+ pages. It takes just five minutes with Tom’s Planner to start planning your first real project plan.
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How to use Tom’s Planner’s software development roadmap to build and share your software development project.
Getting your project off the ground is as easy as 1-2-3.
Step #1
Click the 'start with template’ button to open the Software Development Roadmap.
Step #2
Register for a free account and watch a short video on using Tom’s Planner. The account is free forever, with no strings attached.
Step #3
You’re all set to use the Gantt chart template. Need additional help? Our AI assistant can create a custom Gantt chart Software Development Roadmap based on your project description.
What Is a Software Development Roadmap?
A software development roadmap is a strategic plan that maps out the key milestones, deliverables, and goals of a
software project over time. Think of it as the connective tissue between your long-term vision and the day-to-day
grind of coding, testing, and deploying.
Unlike a task list or a backlog, a roadmap focuses on the why
and when behind your project’s progress. It helps stakeholders—whether developers, product managers, or
executives—understand how their contributions fit into the bigger picture. Tools like software roadmaps make sure that
you don’t just hit deadlines but also deliver meaningful results.
Why Use a Gantt Chart in Your Software Roadmap Template?
Creating a living software roadmap that grows with your project requires more than one type of document. Sure,
you’ll probably use Word and Excel at some point but don’t neglect Gantt charts like Tom’s Planner’s
offering. Why use a Gantt chart?
With a Gantt chart, you can update your software project in real time.
It’s simple to assign tasks, track completion, and keep your team moving forward. It’s particularly useful in agile
software development, but even if you’re using the waterfall method, you’ll find this document delivers key benefits.
That includes resource allocation, stakeholder communication, and granular tracking for managers and execs.
When to Use a Software Development Roadmap
Whether you’re developing the next hit mobile game or back-office software for your own company, a roadmap for software development can help. But when should you use one? Here are a few key instances:
New Product Launch:
Let’s start with what is probably the most obvious use case for a software engineering roadmap: a new product launch. You can use a software development roadmap example from initial ideation and planning all the way through final rollout and maintenance.
Major Feature Updates:
Another use case for a software roadmap template is if you’re about to do a major feature update. Adding new usability and functionality requires in-depth planning, and a software project roadmap lets you chart new features, highlight how they’ll work within the software, assign tasks to team members, and more.
Stakeholder Communication:
Software roadmaps aren’t just about ideation and resource allocation. They’re also useful tools for communication, particularly when you need to keep stakeholders aligned and the project moving forward.
Ultimately, a software development roadmap template helps you plan, create a cohesive strategy, and move your project toward completion.
Who Should Use a Software Development Roadmap?
Not sure if you should be using a software development roadmap? Here are a few people who should definitely make use of this flexible tool:
Product Managers:
In most cases, product managers will be the ones creating and maintaining software roadmaps. They’re handy for aligning functionality with business objectives, outlining features, and more.
Project Managers:
Project managers will also use software development roadmaps. In this case, it’s more about tracking resource allotment, progress against milestones, and planning project phases.
Development Teams:
Development teams will use roadmaps to help them stay on track, keep the overall development plan in mind, understand priorities, and more.
With a comprehensive software development roadmap (that includes a Gantt chart), it’s far easier to track progress, keep everyone on the same page, and manage deliverables.
Start with templateTop Three Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning Software Development
You want your software development project to be successful. Skip these three mistakes to help ensure that’s the case:
- Inadequate Planning
What’s the single most common reason that software development projects fail? Not enough planning.
Solution:Define your goals, set a timeline, allocate resources, assign tasks, and then define how you’ll track and manage all of that.
- Unclear Requirements
What will your software enable or achieve? What are your hard requirements when it comes to features and functionality? Unclear requirements leave too much leeway for misunderstandings.
Solution:Define your requirements early on during the planning stages and then communicate those to everyone involved in unambiguous terms.
- Poor Communication
No software development project can be successful without solid, ongoing, transparent communication. Poor communication leads to misaligned features, missed deadlines, and other problems.
Solution:Make communication a key part of your initial planning and use tools and platforms that keep team members and stakeholders aligned.
Build a better product that delivers the features and functionality your users want and need by skipping these pitfalls. Use tools like Tom’s Planner’s Gantt chart to help improve transparency, planning, and communication across the entire project.
What Does a Software Product Roadmap Template Include?
Our free template includes all the essentials to keep your project on track. Here are just a few of the must-haves we’ve included:
- Gantt Chart
A Gantt chart provides a visual timeline of your project, showing how tasks overlap and when key milestones will be hit. It’s an intuitive way to manage dependencies and make sure you don’t overlook any deadlines. Gantt charts also support better communication, make your team more agile, and keep stakeholders in the loop.
- Cost Estimation
Budgeting is a cornerstone of any project. Blowing the budget is a sure way to tank the project, too. The template includes cost estimation tools so you can track financial resources alongside development milestones, balancing development with cost.
- Portfolio Management
Manage multiple projects or features simultaneously with built-in portfolio views. This helps you see how different initiatives dovetail and which need the most attention. It also helps you balance progress on those projects with budget and staff-related considerations.
- Example Projects
Get inspired with preloaded examples tailored to software development. These examples show how to organize sprints, feature launches, and testing phases effectively. Sometimes a good example is really all you need to help pattern your own project.
- References and Resources
The template includes links to best practices and resources to guide your planning, ensuring you don’t have to start from scratch. After all, why start from the ground up if you don’t have to? Tap into the experience and expertise of others to inform your own project and increase your chances of success.
Four tips on how to make sure you reach your deadlines
A successful roadmap requires more than just filling out a template. Here are five tips to make sure your roadmap delivers the results you need to see:
Define Your Purpose During Early Planning
Every roadmap should start with a clear answer to “why.” Are you building a minimum viable product? Rolling out a new feature? Knowing your purpose informs every decision down the line. Solid planning early on will help encourage success and provide you with an overall vision to guide things.
Prioritize Features
Not all features are created equal. Focus on high-impact functionalities that align with your project’s goals. Pay attention to real user needs and expectations, too. This will help you avoid scope creep and keep your team focused while delivering software that offers value to those who’ll actually be using it regularly.
Stay Flexible
Software projects are notorious for surprises. Whether it’s a technical hiccup or a shift in stakeholder priorities, a flexible roadmap makes sure you can adapt without derailing the entire project. Be prepared for the unexpected and those speedbumps will have less overall impact on the project.
Use Visual Tools
A good roadmap is easy to understand at a glance. Visual tools like the Gantt chart in our software development roadmap template make complex projects accessible to everyone involved. Being able to see project progress, resource availability, team assignments, and other information at a glance helps everyone make faster, more informed decisions.
Gantt charts in Tom's Planner vs in Excel
| Excel | Tom's Planner | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | License required | Free version available |
| Learning curve | Hours | Minutes |
| Create your first Gantt chart | Hours | Minutes |
| Making an update in your chart | Several minutes | Seconds (drag & drop) |
| Sharing charts with others | At some point you will save and email a file titled: version_4_def_usethisversion_reallyfinal.xlsx | Online, one source of truth, always up to date, with no confusion |
| Look & Feel | Messy | Clean, polished and professional |
| Dependencies | 
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| Filtering | 
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| Zoom in/out |
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| Automatic Legend |
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| AI-assist |
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Let our AI assist do the work for you |
| Export to image or pdf | Requires workarounds to export | One mouse click |
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