The Laws of Software Process

105

The Advent of Agile

• Development is incremental, both in the product and in its design

(and even in requirements definition), building in small stages rather

than monolithically. This often includes an evolutionary design

approach rather than one of an early, predetermined design that is

maintained through the whole life cycle.

• Development is flexible with respect to schedule, design, and func-

tionality, and is especially responsive to the naturally changing busi-

ness environment experienced by the customer.

• Each increment is “small,” i.e., each executable component or set is

a relatively simple component of functionality. Even if valuable func-

tions cannot be delivered in small increments, something is deliv-

ered, which is then progressively ...