diff --git a/docs/core-concepts/cycles.md b/docs/core-concepts/cycles.md index b681d13..1489dee 100644 --- a/docs/core-concepts/cycles.md +++ b/docs/core-concepts/cycles.md @@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ By default, Cycles are automatically turned on when you create a new project. If ## Create cycles -::: warning Caution -Two cycles cannot have overlapping dates. +:::warning +By default, two cycles cannot have overlapping dates. If you need overlapping cycles, see [Parallel cycles](/core-concepts/cycles#parallel-cycles). ::: + To create a new Cycle, just press `Q` from anywhere in your project. Or, you can head to the **Cycles** page under your project in the sidebar and click the **Add Cycle** button. You’ll need to give it a name and set the start and due dates. If you want, you can also add a description—either right away or later on! ![Create cycle](https://media.docs.plane.so/cycles/create-cycles.webp#hero) @@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ If the Project Admin sets the **Timezone** in [Project settings](/core-concepts/ ## Cycle states - **Active cycle** - An active cycle is the current, ongoing cycle (the current date falls within the cycle's start and due dates) in which a team is working to complete a set of tasks or user stories within a defined time period. Only one cycle can be active at a time. + An active cycle is the current, ongoing cycle (the current date falls within the cycle's start and due dates) in which a team is working to complete a set of tasks or user stories within a defined time period. By default, only one cycle can be active at a time. To run multiple active cycles simultaneously, see [Parallel cycles](/core-concepts/cycles#parallel-cycles). - **Upcoming cycle** A cycle with a start date in the future is considered upcoming. This allows teams to plan their next phase of work in advance, ensuring a seamless transition from the current active cycle to the next, with everything lined up and ready to go. @@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ While Cycles typically run for their set duration, sometimes you need more flexi To start a Cycle, simply click the **Start Cycle** button next to your upcoming Cycle. This is particularly useful when you want to begin a planned Cycle earlier than its scheduled start date or if you need to start a fresh Cycle immediately. ::: tip -You can't start a new Cycle while another is in progress. To begin a new Cycle, you'll need to stop the currently active one first. +By default, you can't start a new Cycle while another is in progress — you'll need to stop the active one first. With [parallel cycles](/core-concepts/cycles#parallel-cycles) enabled, this restriction is removed and multiple cycles can run simultaneously. ::: ![Start Cycle](https://media.docs.plane.so/cycles/start-cycle.webp#hero-br) @@ -81,6 +82,33 @@ Any unfinished work items in the ended Cycle will remain in their current state. This manual control gives you the flexibility to adapt your Cycles to your team's actual work rhythm, rather than being strictly bound to predetermined dates. +## Parallel cycles + +By default, only one cycle can be active at a time, and cycles cannot have overlapping dates. With parallel cycles enabled, you can run multiple cycles simultaneously with overlapping date ranges. This is useful when your team manages parallel workstreams — for example, a two-week sprint running alongside a longer release cycle. + +### Turn on parallel cycles + +1. Go to **Project Settings > Features > Cycles**. +2. Toggle on **Parallel cycles**. + +![Parallel cycles setting](https://media.docs.plane.so/cycles/parallel-cycles-setting.webp#hero) + +Once enabled, you can create cycles with overlapping dates and start multiple cycles at the same time. Each active cycle appears independently in the Cycles page with its own progress breakdown and burn-down chart. + +![Multiple active cycles](https://media.docs.plane.so/cycles/multiple-active-cycles.webp#hero) + +### How parallel cycles work + +Even with parallel cycles enabled, a work item can only belong to one cycle at a time. This prevents duplicate tracking and keeps cycle metrics accurate. If you try to add a work item that already belongs to another cycle, the system will block the action. + +When you end a parallel cycle, you're prompted to choose what happens to incomplete work items — leave them in the ended cycle or transfer them to an upcoming cycle. + +Parallel cycles also appear in the workspace-level Active Cycles view and in any connected Teamspace Cycles view, so managers can track overlapping cycles across projects. + +### Turn off parallel cycles + +If you turn off the parallel cycles toggle after overlapping cycles already exist, those cycles continue to run normally. You just won't be able to create new overlapping cycles going forward. No existing data is disrupted. + ## Transfer work items Once the due date of an active Cycle passes, it’s automatically marked as completed. After that, you can easily transfer any unfinished work items to an active or upcoming cycle, making it simple to move any leftover tasks to the next cycle.