Introduction to Agile Methods

Chapter 1. The History and Value of Agile Software Development

Learning Objectives

• Understand the history of software methodologies

• Compare and contrast Waterfall and Agile development approaches

• Learn how the Agile Manifesto was created and continues to influence Agile practices

• Read an interview with an Agile Manifesto author

This chapter provides the background of the Agile movement and compares and contrasts Agile to the more traditional Waterfall methodology. It describes the Agile Manifesto in detail and explores the key tenets of Agile, such as the following:

• Close collaboration between the programming team and business experts

• Face-to-face communication

• Frequent delivery of new, deployable business value

• Tight, self-organizing ...