What is Agile | Stegwelt Technologies

Agile is a time boxed, iterative approach to software delivery that builds software incrementally from the start of the project, instead of trying to deliver it all at once near the end.

It works by breaking projects down into little bits of user functionality called user stories, prioritizing them, and then continuously delivering them in short two week cycles called iterations.

From my use of various methods, I have written about 10 key principles of agile.

These are characteristics that are common to all agile methods, and the things that I think make agile fundamentally different to a more traditional waterfall approach to software development.

They are:

1. Active user involvement is imperative

2. The team must be empowered to make decisions

3. Requirements evolve but the timescale is fixed

4. Capture requirements at a high level; lightweight & visual

5. Develop small, incremental releases and iterate

6. Focus on frequent delivery of products

7. Complete each feature before moving on to the next

8. Apply the 80/20 rule

9. Testing is integrated throughout the project lifecycle – test early and often

10. A collaborative & cooperative approach between all stakeholders is essential

The Manifesto for Agile Software Development, also known as the Agile Manifesto, first introduced the term agile in the context of software development in 2001. However, it evolved from techniques developed at DuPont in the mid-80s and further defined in works by James Martin and James Kerr et al.

The Agile Manifesto is based on 12 principles:

1. Customer satisfaction by rapid delivery of useful software
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development
3. Working software is delivered frequently (weeks rather than months)
4. Close, daily cooperation between business people and developers
5. Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted
6. Face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication (co-location)
7. Working software is the principal measure of progress
8. Sustainable development, able to maintain a constant pace
9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design
10. Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done—is essential
11. Self-organizing teams
12. Regular adaptation to changing circumstance