Every software development approach has its flaws and its critics. Though at times, it seems like everyone is looking for a panacea — a cure-all or ultimate remedy. Sadly, there is none. Here are a few criticisms leveled at the major development approaches. All have some validity, especially when the approach is applied improperly (which […]
Have you ever noticed that some people avoid the spotlight? That is, they like to work on low-key projects that don’t get a lot of corporate attention. I’m not in any way suggesting that they don’t work hard. They simply don’t like drawing attention to themselves. Along comes an agile development approach using Scrum, Kanban, […]
You’ve delivered a new or improved software application. Congratulations! Now you find that the software is not receiving the enthusiastic reception you expected. Some people are complaining about defects. Others are whining about missing features. Something seems to have gone wrong. Unfortunately, this scenario is more common than not in software development. We can try […]
You’ve likely heard about the concept of the Minimum Viable Product or MVP. The idea is to build the simplest software solution that satisfies the business and user needs — then begin iterating. Keep improving the product in release after release. The MVP concept is controversial if only because defining a minimal viable product is […]
Much of what happens around us involves trial and error or the process of elimination. For example, if you’ve ever gone to a medical doctor complaining of not feeling right, you’ve seen this in action. Doctors rarely pinpoint a medical condition immediately. They usually start eliminating possibilities by asking questions. They run some tests that […]
Software developers often get a bad rap — and at times we deserve it. Even simple defects can ruin an otherwise good application. Here’s a real world example. It’s a true story. I received an email message from a retailer that I purchase from regularly. They are in the pet supplies business though I won’t […]
Okay. I admit it. I’m not a big fan of burndown charts for tracking software release progress. You can flip them over and call them burnup charts but I’m still not a believer. Here’s why. The burndown chart has an end goal. That goal is total user story points expected to be delivered for the […]
Have you ever noticed that start-up companies have a sense of urgency while established companies have a sense of preservation? It makes sense when you think about it. Start-ups have nothing to lose. They have little or nothing to preserve. They need to build something and get it out into their target markets. Only then […]
I’ve heard complaints that the Scrum approach to software development creates a lot of additional stress. Really? That perception needs further analysis. The team commits to a delivering a set of stories by a target date. That’s stressful. They have daily standup meetings to report progress and discuss impediments. More stress. They have to satisfy […]
Enterprise-scale software development is bit like car racing. I’m not thinking about speed or agility. I’m thinking about complexity. Hear me out. Let’s take NASCAR racing as an example. It looks simple. Drivers go round and round on a track as fast as they can. Fastest car wins, right? Not at all! Racing crews win […]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a fascinating (PDF) report called “Software Development – Effective Practices and Federal Challenges in Applying Agile Methods”. The title is a little long winded but the content is brief and direct. It’s worth reading. The GAO is part of the United States Congress. They audit and evaluate federal […]