Meta / Epic / Collection issues

Issue for brainstorming.

@markpundsack we both want and need something that can be used as such. Let's brainstorm here a bit

Design goals

• collect multiple issues, MRs
• track status of those (for instance, show task completion, whether there is a linked MR, whether the attached milestone is upcoming)
• easily add new issues (whether they exist or not)

Proposals

1. a special markdown syntax for defining issue lists

You could define something like

<issues>
- ref to an issue
- ref to another issue
</issues>

which would be translated in a neat list / table, to which you can easily add new issues.

2. Deliverables

Proposed here: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/19624

3. Make task lists more powerful

When making a task list, transform bare issue links to the descriptions and provide some meta data instead.

Turn this:

- [ ] #12399 
- [ ] #12479 

into:

• Super amazing issue 4/8 tasks completed - 8.12 (due Sept 22nd) - assigned to Job
• Literally the best issue ever DONE - 8.12 (due Sept 22nd) - assigned to Mark

Inspiration

• zenhub epics https://www.zenhub.com/product