Head First Agile

Chapter 5. XP (extreme programming): Embracing change

Software teams are successful when they build great code.

Even really good software teams with very talented developers run into problems with their code. When small code changes “bloom” into a series of cascading hacks, or everyday code commits lead to hours of fixing merge conflicts, work that used to be satisfying becomes annoying, tedious, and frustrating. And that’s where XP comes in. XP is an agile methodology that’s focused on building cohesive teams that communicate well, and creating a relaxed, energized environment. When teams build code that’s simple, not complex, they can embrace change rather than fear it.

Meet the team behind CircuitTrak

CircuitTrak is a fast-growing startup that builds software that gyms, yoga studios, and martial arts dojos use to keep track of classes and attendance.

Gary’s the founder and CEO

He’s a former college football player who went on to coach high school and, later, college teams. He started the company in his garage two years ago. It’s been successful almost since day one, and they just moved into an office downtown. Gary’s proud of the company he built, and wants to keep it growing.

Ana and Ryan are the lead engineers

There wouldn’t be a CircuitTrak without Ana and ...