Iterative and incremental: these are the two keywords binding the “fits just right” process that underlies the new concept hitting software today: agile software development.
Applications software developer DVT, a company in the JSE AltX-listed DTH group, co-hosted Scott W Ambler, IBM's worldwide practice leader in agile technologies, in conjunction with IndigoCube at a seminar in Cape Town.
The agile model turns traditional software development on its head and advocates the more evolutionary approach of iterative, incremental delivery that focuses on delivering high-quality systems in full collaboration with the client.
The seminar, entitled “Agile software development in the real world”, was over-subscribed, indicating the high level of interest in shifting the old paradigm of traditional development style.
Ambler says the basis of agile is to achieve a value-driven lifecycle through the regular production of working software for a client.
“Disciplined agile software development is an evolutionary approach to development which regularly produces high-quality software in a cost-effective and timely manner via a risk- and value-driven lifecycle. It is performed in a highly collaborative, self-organising yet governed manner, with active stakeholder participation to ensure the team understands and addresses the changing needs of its stakeholders,” says Ambler.
Take-up of the agile approach in the US and Europe has been rapid - since the manifesto was launched in 2004, more than 65% of organisations surveyed have implemented one or more agile techniques, all citing improved productivity, higher quality, increased business stakeholder satisfaction and reduced cost of system development as the reason for the shift.
“Agile was borne out of dissatisfaction with the traditional way of managing financial risk: the tight constraints of a job quotation inevitably limits time, offers no flexibility for clients' changing needs, and ultimately compromises on quality. With the agile approach of delivering working software in two-, three- or even four-week iterations, overall functionality is improved, there can be rapid response to change, ongoing customer involvement is key, and clients achieve greater return on investment,” says Adrian Logan, software development Lead at DVT Cape.
Logan says vendors need to take the lead in introducing better ways - like agile - to tackle the complex, difficult and expensive task of developing and supporting software.
DVT will host a number of agile forums during 2009 to investigate mechanisms to introduce and propagate agile through more organisations across South Africa.
Share