Software Development
Agile Software Development

It's a delivery thing

I have moved my agile material to a separate site called Its a delivery thing!

Agile Development is about light and fast application development. Use it if you've got a short timeframe with a hard deadline and/or your requirements are soft (i.e. ill defined or changeable). If you've a comfortable timeframe and stable requirements then Agile won't add much value - personally I haven't had such a project yet.

Agile Advantages

In terms of advantages, adopting an agile approach offers increased likelihood that:

  • the customer gets a product they are happy with
  • the product is higher quality
  • the product is developed faster than traditional methods allow

All of which increases the chances of a successful project and a successful product.

Agile Methods: XP, Scrum, DSDM, Kanban, etc

There are lots of Agile methods in use now days including eXtreme Programming otherwise known as XP, Scrum, the Crystal family of methods, and DSDM, Kaban, plus others. Scrum is probably the oldest (c. 1994) and XP more recent (c. 2000) and Kanban is the new kid on the block.

Some big names use Agile methods for example XP was first used at Chrysler and DSDM has been used at BT and Orange. Most of the methods originated in the US, but DSDM is British - not that that makes a difference to where they are used. All these methods have been used for web/e-commerce type applications - in fact that is probably where they are used most often.

The methods vary in specific details (for example XP has a strong technical component) and Kanban is more about a process to manage throughput but they there are many similarities, so much so that representatives of these methods have formed an AgileAlliance complete with web site. Their site offers an Agile manifesto and associated principles as an explanation of what they're on about.

I use a blend of these methods; selecting the practices that are appropriate for particular projects, and that fit in with the style of particular customers.

It's a Delivery Thing: Pragmatic Agile

I have moved my agile material to a separate site called Its a delivery thing!