History

The Agile Manifesto emerged in February 2001 when a group of 17 software development experts met in Snowbird, Utah, to address the challenges of traditional, heavily planned software development methodologies. Frustrated with inflexible processes and documentation-heavy approaches, they sought a more adaptive and customer-focused approach. This meeting led to the creation of the Agile Manifesto, a concise declaration of values and principles for software development.

Key figures at the meeting included Kent Beck, Martin Fowler, and Ward Cunningham, among others. They highlighted four core values: prioritizing individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change. These values catalyzed the Agile movement, leading to the development of various methodologies, including Scrum and Extreme Programming (XP).

Agile methodologies gained popularity in the software industry due to their effectiveness in delivering valuable software quickly and their ability to adapt to evolving requirements. The Agile Manifesto continues to shape modern software development practices and has expanded beyond its origins to influence various industries and domains seeking more flexible and customer-centric approaches.

What is Agile Manifesto

The Agile Manifesto is a guiding document for software development that prioritizes adaptability and customer collaboration. It emphasizes four key values and twelve principles:

1. Individuals and Interactions over Processes and Tools: Agile values human communication and teamwork more than relying solely on methodologies and tools.
2. Working Software over Comprehensive Documentation: It prioritizes functional software over exhaustive documentation, ensuring practicality and responsiveness.
3. Customer Collaboration over Contract Negotiation: Agile encourages constant customer involvement to ensure products meet their evolving needs.
4. Responding to Change over Following a Plan: Agile promotes flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes rather than rigidly adhering to initial project plans.

The twelve principles focus on customer satisfaction, delivering working software, welcoming change, frequent communication, and sustainable development practices. Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban are based on these principles, enabling iterative, collaborative, and customer-centric development processes. Agile fosters a mindset of continuous improvement and responsiveness, making it a popular approach in the software industry.