GitHub project boards would be extremely useful for planning, tracking, and managing the different tasks, issues, and components involved in this blockchain implementation project. The project board feature in GitHub enables easy visualization of project status and workflow. It would allow the team to decompose the work into specific cards, assign those cards to different stages of development (To Do, In Progress, Done), and assign people to each card.

Some key ways the GitHub project board could be leveraged for this blockchain project include:

The board could have several different lists/columns set up to represent the major phases or components of the project. For example, there may be columns for “Research & Planning”, “Smart Contract Development”, “Blockchain Node Development”, “Testing”, “Documentation”, etc. This would help break the large project down into more manageable chunks and provide a clear overview of the workflow.

Specific cards could then be created under each list to represent individual tasks or issues that need to be completed as part of that component. For example, under “Research & Planning” there may be cards for “Identify blockchain platform/framework to use”, “Architect smart contract design”, “Define testing methodology”. Under “Smart Contract Development” there would be cards for each smart contract to be written.

Each card could include important details like a description of the work, any specifications/requirements, links to related documentation, individuals assigned, estimates for time needed, etc. Comments could also be added right on the cards for team discussion. Attaching files to cards or linking to other resources on GitHub would allow information to be centralized in one place.

People from the cross-functional team working on the project could then be assigned as “assignees” to each card representing the tasks they are responsible for. Cards could be dragged and dropped into different lists as the status changes – from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done”. This provides a clear, visual representation of who is working on what, and overall project velocity.

The board views could also be filtered or queried in different ways to help track progress. For example, filtering by assignee to see what someone specifically has been assigned to. Or filtering for “In Progress” cards to see what work is currently underway. GitHub’s search functionality could also be leveraged to quickly find relevant cards.

Periodic syncs could be set up where the team meets to review the board, discuss any blocked tasks, re-assign work if needed, and ensure everything is progressing as planned and dependencies are handled. New cards can also be quickly added during these syncs as work evolves. The ability to leave comments directly on cards allows asynchronous collaboration.

Additional lists beyond the core development phases could be used. For example, an “Icebox” list to park potential future enhancements or ideas. A “BUGS” list to track any issues. And a “RELEASE” list to help manage upcoming versions. Milestones could also be set on the project to help work towards major releases.

Integrations with other GH features like automated tests, code reviews, and pull requests would allow tie-ins from development workflows. For example, cards could link to specific pull requests so work items track end-to-end from planning to code commit. But the project board offers a higher level, centralized view than isolated issues.

Some real-time integrations may also be useful. For example, integrating with tools like Slack to post notifications of card or assignee updates. This enhances team awareness and communication without needing direct access to GitHub. Automated deployment workflows could also move cards to “Done” automatically upon success.

GitHub project boards provide an essential tool for planning, communication, and management of complex blockchain development projects. Centralizing all relevant information into a visual, interactive board format streamlines collaboration and transparency throughout the entire project lifecycle from ideation to deployment. Proper configuration and utilization of the various features can help ensure all tasks are efficiently tracked and dependencies handled to successfully deliver the project on schedule and meet requirements.