If you’ve browsed .NET development jobs on Monster or Workopolis lately, you’ve probably noticed one buzzword appearing everywhere: Agile. Nearly every job posting asks for experience with some sort of Agile methodology. But what does it actually mean to be Agile?
I’ve been reading Agile and Iterative Development: A Manager’s Guide by Craig Larman to find out, and the first thing I learned surprised me: You are not doing Agile, you ARE Agile!
The Agile Manifesto: The Foundation
The Agile approach is built on four core principles:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools > Working software over comprehensive documentation > Customer collaboration over contract negotiation > Responding to change over following a plan
When I searched “define:agile” on Google, I found “moving quickly and lightly” — which honestly didn’t help much. What I’ve discovered is that Agile isn’t a single process but rather an umbrella covering multiple methodologies. The two most popular are Scrum and Extreme Programming (XP).
Scrum: Self-Organizing Teams in Action
According to Larman, Scrum’s standout feature is its “strong promotion of self-organizing teams, daily team measurement, and avoidance of following predefined steps.” Key practices include daily stand-up meetings with specific questions, 30-day iterations, and demos to stakeholders at the end of each cycle.
Many companies cherry-pick elements from different Agile methods and blend them together. I’m particularly intrigued by stand-up meetings, though I haven’t experienced them firsthand. My theory is that keeping people standing prevents meetings from dragging on — when people get comfortable in their chairs, conversations tend to wander. If a short daily meeting turns unproductive every single day, imagine how much time gets wasted over a year.
XP: Where I Found My Philosophy
Extreme Programming immediately caught my attention. As Larman explains, “XP emphasizes collaboration, quick and early software creation, and skillful development practices. It is founded on four values: communication, simplicity, feedback, and courage.”
XP includes twelve core practices, including whole teams working in shared spaces, pair programming, constant refactoring, and test-driven development. That last one hooked me completely.
Since embracing test-driven development, I can’t imagine going back. The ability to refactor code without fear of regressions, knowing I can make changes with confidence — it’s transformed how I work. When you win dozens of small battles every day through TDD, you go home feeling accomplished. You can honestly say, “The code I wrote today works, and it works well.”
My Agile Journey Continues
This is just my initial take on Agile methodology. I have more reading and learning ahead of me, but I’m already seeing how these principles can make development more effective and, frankly, more enjoyable.
The key insight? Agile isn’t about following a rigid set of rules — it’s about adopting a mindset that values people, working software, collaboration, and adaptability above all else.