I've written a couple of articles for Better Software magazine. My editor there is Brian Marick, one of the authors of the Agile Manifesto. I've read quite a lot about it.

The funny thing is that "agile development" is not even a methodology. eXtreme Programming is a methodology that is agile; Scrum is a methodology that is agile; Crystal is a methodology that is agile. But all the agile people ever set out to do was to point to ways to reduce the cost of change while increasing the quality of software.

Here's another analogy for you: it's like building a house. Traditional software development says "before we start, we need complete blueprints, a detailed list of supplies, and a concrete schedule. You will move in exactly 18 months from the moment that all of these preparations are complete."

The agile people are saying "Hey, here's a room for you to live in. We'd be happy to change it for you while we're building your next room, just let us know. In a week or two, you'll have two rooms, then three rooms. Just let us know when you want us to stop building your house."

I hope that makes sense.

In reply to Re: Agile programming a skill? by McMahon
in thread Agile programming a skill? by thor

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