Agile Experiences: Software Engineering Radio interview Jens Coldewey

Software Engineering Radio is a podcast targeted at the professional software developer. The goal is to be a lasting educational resource, not a newscast. Every ten days, a new episode is published that covers all topics software engineering. Episodes are either tutorials on a specific topic, or an interview with a well-known character from the software engineering world.

Agile method and Extreme Programming: Differences and Similarities

Agile is a mindset, not a method

Saying we use an Agile method lacks precision. We should say that we use an Agile method such as Extreme Programming (XP), Scrum, or Agile Unified Process (AUP) for example.

Agile values

The Agile mindset promotes evolutionary changes throughout the SDLC. It does so by emphasizing:

• Rapid development and delivery of small chunks of useable software
• Quick integration of changes in requirements: changes have to be dealt with appropriately without having to go through the lengthy process of a change management board
• Close collaboration between users, analysts, and programmers: they have to be available all the time at the same location and communicate face-to-face
• Empowering team members: responsibility is based on trust, not on authority
• Self-organizing teams: thanks to trust and close communication, team members can easily step up or down according to the issue at hand. There is no guru, and no fifth wheel.