Agile-Overview

What is Agile Methodology?

Agile is the name given to the school of thought known as Agile Software Development. Agile software development is a blanket term used to describe a set of methods and practices which have been inspired by the values laid out in the Agile Manifesto.

Where Did Agile Come From?

The Agile Manifesto was first created in 2001 after the agile methodology had its start in the late 80s and early 90s. Agile was created when 17 software developers met in Utah to discuss software development methods. That is where they published the Manifesto for Agile development.

What is Agile manifesto?

The Manifesto for Agile Software Development was published by 17 software developers who met in Utah in 2001. The purpose of the manifesto, in their words, was:
“uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it”. In their findings, they can to value Individuals and Interactions over Processes and Tools, Working software over comprehensive documentation, Customer collaboration over contract negotiation and respond to change over following a plan.
You can find the original Agile Manifesto at: Agile Manifesto

What is Agile Development life cycle?

The Agile development life cycle, much like the Agile process in general, is very versatile and flexible in nature. When compared to lifecycles of more conventional methods like the waterfall (LINK), the Agile SDLC is much more dynamic. Different teams may make changes to the lifecycle based upon their personal preferences and experiences. Here is an example of a common Agile SDLC:

As you can see in the diagram, only the first two stages are static and need to be performed before the dynamic process can begin. These are the Planning and Analysis stages, to which time and effort need to be allotted before moving on to the next stages. This type of model allows a great deal of versatility in the product: Customer feedback can be used to continuously improve the product. Customers can actually see the changes they requested, as the software is released to the public in increments.

What are the other frameworks of agile?

Various frameworks exist for applying Agile in any organization. Some of the main frameworks of Agile are:

  • Scrum software development
  • Lean software development
  • Scaled Agile Framework (SaFE)
  • Large Scale Scrum (LeSS)
  • Disciplined Agile Delivery (DaD)
  • Adaptive software development (ASD)
  • Agile modeling
  • Agile Unified Process (AUP)
  • Dynamic systems development method (DSDM)
  • Extreme programming (XP)
  • Feature-driven development (FDD)

What are Agile Artifacts?

An Agile artifact is one of many kinds of by-products that are created during the agile process. Artefacts in software development help define the function, architecture, and design of software. Some examples of Artifacts in agile include: User Story, Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Burndown chart.

What is done mean in agile?

Done is a simple list of activities (writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, release notes, design documents, etc.) that add verifiable/demonstrable value to the product. Focusing on value-added steps allows the team to focus on what must be completed in order to build software while eliminating wasteful activities that only complicate software development effort.