Confluence 5 brings significant interface overhaul

Atlassian has released a new version of its collaboration and project management software Confluence. Confluence 5.0.1 arrives with a completely redesigned user interface – a process Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes calls "probably the biggest interface overhaul we’ve ever done in Atlassian’s history." The most visible part of the new look is the global header which has been changed to make navigation between parts of the application simpler and more straightforward.

Atlassian demonstrates the new user interface

A new sidebar makes it easier to find content without using the search function. The sidebar is visible in components, called "spaces" in Confluence, that use the default theme. Administrators of a space can create shortcuts to the most important pages in the sidebar and the new design also allows users to collapse the sidebar if they want it to take up less of their workspace.

The editor has also received some developer attention and is now loading more quickly and reliably without the need for page reloads. It also uses a new responsive design that scales with the size of the available browser window.

More information regarding all changes in Confluence 5.0.1 is available in the release notes. OnDemand customers will automatically have been updated to the new version. A 30-day trial version is available to download for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux as well.

(fab)