Agile manifesto

Agile software development is an iterative method of project management and software development that supports teams in providing value to their customers/users more quickly and with less stress. The fundamental values and guiding principles of agile software development are outlined in the agile manifesto. As the document is officially known, the manifesto for agile software development aims to serve as a model for teams to successfully adopt the agile project management concept and apply it to enhance their work process.

How does it work?

Now, we’ll discuss how the agile manifesto works in software development:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: All agile methods clearly focus on the individual. This assures that an agile process won’t ever be implemented or established without the team members of the project consent. The agile process is developed and refined by them.
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation: The basic objective of developing functional, acceptable software is to be constantly pursued. There will be no creation of an artifact for its own sake.
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: Customer satisfaction is the main factor for the acceptance of any software. The developer should work closely with the customer to achieve high satisfaction. Unfortunately, problems arise for the software client just like they do for everyone else who pays someone to create a product.
4. Responding to change over following a plan: The agile team would welcome any update. It makes no sense to become irritated at a user’s request for a change; we should consider where they are coming from. In addition to accepting and implementing the necessary adjustments, we also have to assist the customer in making the best choice possible. Only functional software offers the support that is required.

The agile manifesto is formerly known as lightweight processes. The agile manifesto framework replaces the previous, more complicated, documented software development practices.

Importance

Software development teams can benefit greatly from the agile manifesto, providing them with a flexible framework to direct their project management procedures and follow agile best practices. The basic document also makes clear what is crucial to agile project management, empowering teams to organize their tasks and set mutual goals. For instance, software engineers will understand the importance of customer happiness so that all project plans may be created with that guiding principle in mind.

Principles

There are the following twelve main principles of the agile manifesto:

• Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
• Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage.
• Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for a shorter timescale.
• Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
• Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.
• The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
• Working software is the primary measure of progress.
• Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
• Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
• Simplicity — the art of maximizing the amount of work not done — is essential.
• The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.
• At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.