Summary

This chapter is a lightweight introduction to Agile. The chapter has introduced the Agile Manifesto, its Twelve Principles of Agile Software, individual Agile methodologies, and some of the key Agile processes and techniques. For in-depth insights, go to the Agile Alliance web site at www.AgileAlliance.org or Google the keywords that were introduced earlier.

Is Agile a panacea? No! Software development is an inherently messy activity. No tool, process, or methodology will ever completely sanitize it. Developing software has a lot in common with playing a contact sport like football or rugby. The individual players work hard to develop their game skills. The team management buys the best equipment it can afford. The coaches devise plays and drill the players on play execution. Then, on game day, contact happens, it rains, it snows, the opposition is bigger and faster, plays go well, plays go badly, and the team scrambles to adjust to ever-changing conditions. At the end of the game, the team comes off the field, tired, limping, battered, bruised, bloodied, and laughing about all the fun they ha....