# Product, Design, and Engineering (PDE)

Product, Design, and Engineering (PDE) includes engineering, QA, product management, documentation, analytics, community, and design (UX, UI). PDE was formerly known as *Research and Development*, the name was changed to highlight Mattermost's commitment to Design and focus on Product.

### PDE Key Info

* [Analyst Research](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/analyst-research): Analyst meeting tracker, briefing procedures, research. We are currently Gartner clients.
* [Compete](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/compete): Key articles on competitors. Also see [automated feeds from competitor marketing](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/compete-feeds).

### What tools we use

We use a variety of tools at Mattermost. Not every team uses the same tools, and it can get overwhelming to try remember who uses what and where it is.

During onboarding you'll be provided with a list of tools to set up. You can also visit the [Helpdesk](https://helpdesk.mattermost.com/support/catalog/items) to find the tool and request access.

### Where to find information

We use a range of web properties and tools to document and share plans, specs, roadmaps, and release schedules.

* Product roadmaps, feature releases, planned features: [Features by release productboard](https://mattermost.productboard.com/roadmap/2855466-features-by-release), [Release roadmap by vertical](https://mattermost.productboard.com/roadmap/2941622-release-roadmap-by-product-vertical).
* Product specs: [Teams](https://mattermost.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces?label=teams), [Software project](https://mattermost.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces?label=software-project)
* Apps, integrations, plugins: [Integrate](https://developers.mattermost.com/integrate/getting-started/)
* How to get started with contributing and developer set up: [Getting started](https://developers.mattermost.com/contribute/getting-started/)
* Designs and mockups: [Figma](https://www.figma.com/files/802235376456811310/recent?fuid=788840938074139976)
* How open source software is developed: [Development & Release Process](https://handbook.mattermost.com/operations/research-and-development/product/release-process/release-overview)
* How contributors can get involved: [Platform Contribution Process](https://handbook.mattermost.com/contributors/contributors/community-playbook)
* Analytics playbook and data wallows: [Analytics](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/analytics-2)

### Where to find us

* Technical writers: [DWG: Documentation Working Group](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/dwg-documentation-working-group)
* Product Managers: [Product Management](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/product-management)
* UX team: [UX Design](https://community.mattermost.com/core/channels/ux-design)
* Analysts: [Analytics](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/analytics-2)
* Community: [Community Team](https://community.mattermost.com/private-core/channels/community-team)

**Tip:** We generally use channel naming conventions to make it easier to find channels. Team channels are prefixed with "team", feature channels prefixed with "feature" and so on. For example, if you're looking for a team channel, open the channel browser and search for "team".

## Who we are

PDE is led by:

* Joram Wilander - Director, Engineering
* Jason Blais - VP, Product and Program Management

We use [this spreadsheet to track the organization structure](https://mattermost.sharepoint.com/:x:/s/org-pde/Ea5II-MK6xRHruGtj7CUbl4BKxZOaxx0BnfS8cW8RWQi2A?e=KMsR59).


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