<h1>Spades Quick Start Guide</h1><p>Get up and running with Spades in 5 minutes. This guide covers the essential workflow from login to setting estimates in Linear.</p><h1>Instructional Video</h1><p>View a Loom video here to quickly see how to use Spades</p><div data-loom-video=""><iframe class="aspect-video" width="100%" height="auto" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/9cabfa14c5744ebc979ed7236012227e?sid=70e804ad-e262-44a2-9c6d-b7b60f00a1bb"></iframe></div><h2>Overview</h2><p>Spades helps your team estimate story points through collaborative voting sessions. Here's what you'll accomplish:</p><ol class="steps-list"><li><p><strong>Connect to Linear</strong> - Import your workspace issues</p></li><li><p><strong>Select Issues</strong> - Choose team, view, or project to estimate</p></li><li><p><strong>Navigate &amp; Discuss</strong> - Review issues with your team</p></li><li><p><strong>Vote &amp; Estimate</strong> - Submit votes and set estimates in Linear</p></li></ol><hr><h2>Step 1: Getting Connected</h2><h3>Login with Linear</h3><ol class="steps-list"><li><p>Click "Get Started" or the play icon in the top right</p></li><li><p>Authorize Spades to access your Linear workspace</p></li><li><p>You're now connected and can access your teams, views, and projects</p></li></ol><h3>Share the Session</h3><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Copy the URL</strong> from your browser after login and selecting a view/team/project</p></li><li><p><strong>Send to teammates</strong> so they can join the same estimation session</p></li><li><p><strong>Real-time sync</strong> ensures everyone sees the same content</p></li></ul><hr><h2>Step 2: Select Your Issues</h2><h3>Using the View Selector</h3><p><strong>Location</strong>: Top-right search icon</p><p><strong>Quick Access</strong>: Press <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Cmd+G</code> (Mac) or <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+G</code> (Windows/Linux)</p><h3>Your Options:</h3><h4><strong>Teams</strong></h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Select from your Linear teams</p></li><li><p>Shows all unestimated issues for that team</p></li><li><p>Good for team-focused estimation sessions</p></li></ul><h4><strong>Views</strong></h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Use your saved Linear views</p></li><li><p>Filter issues by custom criteria (labels, status, assignee, etc.)</p></li><li><p>Most flexible option for targeted estimation</p></li></ul><h4><strong>Projects</strong></h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Browse issues within specific Linear projects</p></li><li><p>Useful for project-scoped estimation sessions</p></li></ul><h3>Selection Behavior:</h3><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Only one active</strong>: Selecting a new option clears the previous selection</p></li><li><p><strong>Auto-load</strong>: Issues load automatically after selection</p></li><li><p><strong>Issue count</strong>: You'll see "No issues found" if the selection contains no unestimated issues</p></li></ul><hr><h2>Step 3: Navigate Through Issues</h2><h3>Issue Display</h3><p>Once you've selected a team/view/project, issues appear one at a time:</p><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Issue Title</strong>: Clear title from Linear</p></li><li><p><strong>Description</strong>: Full issue description with formatting</p></li><li><p><strong>Comments</strong>: Any Linear comments for context</p></li></ul><h3>Navigation Methods:</h3><h4><strong>Keyboard Navigation</strong> (Recommended)</h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">J</code> - Previous issue</p></li><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">K</code> - Next issue</p></li></ul><h4><strong>Navigation Controls</strong></h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Use on-screen navigation buttons if preferred</p></li><li><p>Click previous/next arrows</p></li></ul><h3>Navigation Tips:</h3><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Focus required</strong>: Make sure you're not typing in a text field</p></li><li><p><strong>Real-time sync</strong>: Your navigation is synced to all team members in the session</p></li></ul><hr><h2>Step 4: Collaborative Voting</h2><h3>Understanding the Voting Process</h3><ol class="steps-list"><li><p><strong>Individual Voting</strong>: Each team member votes privately</p></li><li><p><strong>Vote Collection</strong>: Votes are gathered in real-time</p></li><li><p><strong>Results Display</strong>: Statistics shown when all votes are in</p></li><li><p><strong>Estimate Setting</strong>: One click to set the final estimate in Linear</p></li></ol><h3>Fibonacci Values Available:</h3><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>1, 2, 3, 5, 8</strong> issue points</p></li><li><p><strong>Abstain</strong> option if you prefer not to vote</p></li></ul><h3>How to Vote:</h3><h4><strong>Method 1: Click Buttons</strong></h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Click the estimate buttons in the interface</p></li><li><p>Clear visual feedback for selected estimates</p></li></ul><h4><strong>Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts</strong> (Faster)</h4><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+1</code> - Vote 1 point</p></li><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+2</code> - Vote 2 points</p></li><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+3</code> - Vote 3 points</p></li><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+5</code> - Vote 5 points</p></li><li><p><code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+8</code> - Vote 8 points</p></li></ul><h3>Voting States:</h3><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Waiting for votes</strong>: Shows voting buttons</p></li><li><p><strong>Partial votes</strong>: Shows vote progress (e.g., "3 of 5 votes")</p></li><li><p><strong>All votes in</strong>: Shows calculated results</p></li></ul><hr><h2>Step 5: Set Estimates in Linear</h2><h3>Review the Results</h3><p>After all team members vote, Spades automatically calculates:</p><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p><strong>Lowest</strong>: Minimum estimate from all votes</p></li><li><p><strong>Median</strong>: Middle value when votes are sorted</p></li><li><p><strong>Average</strong>: Mathematical average (rounded to whole number)</p></li><li><p><strong>Highest</strong>: Maximum estimate from all votes</p></li></ul><h3>Setting the Final Estimate</h3><ol class="steps-list"><li><p><strong>Team Discussion</strong>: Review any significant variance in votes</p></li><li><p><strong>Choose Result</strong>: Click on one of the four calculated results</p><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Most teams use <strong>Median</strong> for balanced estimates</p></li><li><p>Use <strong>Average</strong> for simplicity</p></li><li><p>Consider <strong>Highest</strong> for risk management</p></li><li><p>Use <strong>Lowest</strong> for optimistic scenarios</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Automatic Processing</strong>:</p><ul class="accent-bullets"><li><p>Selected value is rounded to nearest Fibonacci number</p></li><li><p>Estimate is immediately set in Linear</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Move to Next</strong>: Use <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">K</code> to navigate to the next issue</p></li></ol><hr><h2>Complete Workflow Example</h2><p>Let's walk through a typical 10-minute estimation session:</p><h3><strong>Minute 1-2: Setup</strong></h3><ol class="steps-list"><li><p>Team lead creates session and shares URL</p></li><li><p>Team members join via shared link</p></li><li><p>Team lead selects appropriate Linear view using <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Cmd+G</code></p></li></ol><h3><strong>Minute 3-8: Estimation Loop</strong></h3><p>For each issue (repeat 3-5 times):</p><ol class="steps-list"><li><p><strong>Review</strong> (30 seconds): Read issue title, description, comments</p></li><li><p><strong>Discuss</strong> (60 seconds): Team discusses implementation approach</p></li><li><p><strong>Vote</strong> (15 seconds): Each member presses <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">Ctrl+[number]</code> to vote</p></li><li><p><strong>Decide</strong> (15 seconds): Review results and click chosen estimate</p></li><li><p><strong>Navigate</strong> (5 seconds): Press <code class="inline-code-shadow bg-gray-100 border border-gray-200/60 dark:border-gray-800 font-medium dark:bg-gray-700/60 text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 font-mono text-md px-1 py-0.5 rounded-[0.2rem] [&amp;::before]:content-none [&amp;::after]:content-none">K</code> to move to next issue</p></li></ol><h3><strong>Minute 9-10: Wrap-up</strong></h3><ol class="steps-list"><li><p>Review any issues that had high variance in votes</p></li><li><p>Plan next estimation session if needed</p><p></p></li></ol><p></p>

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