CSC/ECE 517 Fall 2007/wiki3 10 tm

The Agile debate. Perhaps the most prominent controversy in o-o design today is whether it is possible to do a robust design with as little advance planning as agile methodologies recommend. Research this issue, on the Web and in the ACM DL, and report (fairly) on the major arguments of both sides, and on the evidence for both positions.

What is 'Agile Methodology'?

Agile Methodology was introduced as an iterative approach for developing software as a counter to waterfall approach. Where the five main phases of waterfall (requirement, design, codeing, integration, testing) are practiced through every iteration. Moreover, it sugeested several practices to enhace the software developments, see next figure from [http://txpug.editme.com/files/Lec2004Jul26/rupvagile.1.ppt "Finding Agility -�A comparison of RUP and Agile"], *.PPT .

Many Agile methodologies were introduced in the last decade (XP, Scrum, DSDM, FDD, Lean, Adaptive, Crystal). It would be difficult to introduce every aspect of these methodology in this wiki. That is why, This wiki will concentrate in the most popular agile methodology, XP (eXtreme Programming).

Comparison Basis for Robust Design

A comparison between Agile methodologies and Waterfall methodology is found to be a little out of scope, as the advantages of iterative methodologies already recognized. That is why the current wiki will concentrate to compare with other iterative methods, such as RUP (Rational Unified Process). RUP share many of Agile's practices. Other practices can be immegrated from XP to RUP, or vise versa. Other features will still be unique to XP or in RUP. Next figure outline these practices, from [http://txpug.editme.com/files/Lec2004Jul26/rupvagile.1.ppt "Finding Agility -�A comparison of RUP and Agile"], *.PPT .

In the current wiki we will try to test the Agile Manifesto and its related practices relative to design quality. These found to be the best basis for comparison as it provide the basis Agile methodologies trying to establish over other iterative methods.

Individuals and Interactions Over processes and tools

Requires too much cultural change to adopt
Only works with senior-level developers

Working software Over comprehensive documentation

Lack of structure and necessary documentation

Customer collaboration Over contract negotiation

Can lead to more difficult contractual negotiations

Responding to change Over following a plan

Incorporates insufficient software design

Agile Methodologies' Real Manifest

XP/Agile's practices are introduced to achieve certain values (Communication, Feedback, Courage, Simplicity, Respect). It is true that these practices will help to provide the best environement for these values to grow. Neverthless, many of these practices acquire the existance of these values in the project, the company, the manegment, the individuals, and moreover the customer. Certain enough these values represent a moral and professional values that should exist in every social and individual system. Neverthless, we recognize there variation in every system. Moreover, many of these values might be out of the control as simplicity of the project or the courage of the customer. The author think that is why Agile approach will give even a better results in different area such as R&D or education, see links.

The question will be "Which should exist first the values -the egg- or the Agile methodology -the chicken-."

Conclusion

Agile methodologies provided a framework for software development. These methodologies not ment to be for every project, company and/or person, see "Who Stole Agile?". To gain the promised savings in the documentaion, architicture and process, you need more than Agile practices; You will need Communication, Feedback, Simplicity, Courage, Respect existing in your company, project, individuals and in the customer. If you can't achieve these condition, then you will need to be assisted with more documentaions, design and process. Still Agile methodology will provide you with a lot of useful tools, you can pick and match what is suitable for your comapny, project, customer and personality.

External Links by Side

Arguments *Against* XP

• "Extreme Programming Refactored: The Case Against XP "
  
• "Questioning Extreme Programming"
  
• "Extreme Programming vs. Interaction Design"
  
• "Towards Extreme(ly) Usable Software"
  
• "The Case Against Extreme Programming"
  
• "The Agile Method and Other Fairly Tales", *.PDF
  
• "Kevin Brady Blog"
• "Opinion: Extreme Programming Is Evil"
  
• "Xp Critique"
  
• "The Case Against Extreme Programming"
  

Arguments *Support* XP

• "Are agile methods good for design?"
  

Success Stories

• "Breaking the Ice for Agile Development of Embedded Software: An Industry Experience Report"
  
• "Agile enterprise software development using domain-driven design and test first"
  

External Links by Field

Programming

• "XP over Eclipse"
• "Agile Web Development with Rails"

Education

• "Extreme Learning"
• "A cross-program investigation of students' perceptions of agile methods"
• "eXtreme Programming at universities: an educational perspective"
  

Project Manegment

• "Developments in Agile Project Management"

R&D

• "agile practices for R&D projects"