Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change, Edition 2

Kent Beck · Cynthia Andres

Nov 2004 · Addison-Wesley Professional

About this ebook

Accountability. Transparency. Responsibility. These are not words that are often applied to software development.

In this completely revised introduction to Extreme Programming (XP), Kent Beck describes how to improve your software development by integrating these highly desirable concepts into your daily development process.

The first edition of Extreme Programming Explained is a classic. It won awards for its then-radical ideas for improving small-team development, such as having developers write automated tests for their own code and having the whole team plan weekly. Much has changed in five years. This completely rewritten second edition expands the scope of XP to teams of any size by suggesting a program of continuous improvement based on:

• Five core values consistent with excellence in software development
• Eleven principles for putting those values into action
• Thirteen primary and eleven corollary practices to help you push development past its current business and technical limitations

Whether you have a small team that is already closely aligned with your customers or a large team in a gigantic or multinational organization, you will find in these pages a wealth of ideas to challenge, inspire, and encourage you and your team members to substantially improve your software development.

You will discover how to:

• Involve the whole team–XP style
• Increase technical collaboration through pair programming and continuous integration
• Reduce defects through developer testing
• Align business and technical decisions through weekly and quarterly planning
• Improve teamwork by setting up an informative, shared workspace

You will also find many other concrete ideas for improvement, all based on a philosophy that emphasizes simultaneously increasing the humanity and effectiveness of software development.

Every team can improve. Every team can begin improving today. Improvement is possible–beyond what we can currently imagine. Extreme Programming Explained, Second Edition, offers ideas to fuel your improvement for years to come.

Ratings and reviews

Discusses an alternative to waterfall development, which seems very reasonable. Provides recommendations how to start and what to aim for in the way of "adoption". Explains expected benefits if applied partially. Communicates clearly and accessibly the ideas. Provides metaphors and examples where needed. Some of the ideas are quite natural in the sense that when you read them you think - but of course, it makes so much sense. I would recommend it to anybody who wants to work in software development - even if you never apply most of the practices that are described, having an alternative how things can be done motivates you to rethink the way you develop software.

AÀA BOSS NETWORK

About the author

Kent Beck consistently challenges software engineering dogma, promoting ideas like patterns, test-driven development, and Extreme Programming. Currently affiliated with Three Rivers Institute and Agitar Software, he is the author of many Addison-Wesley titles.

Cynthia Andres holds a B.S. in psychology with advanced work in organizational behavior, decision analysis, and women’s studies. She has worked with Kent on the social aspects of Extreme Programming since its inception. She is also affiliated with Three Rivers Institute.

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