Agile

Agile is an iterative approach to software development and product management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, customer feedback, and rapid delivery of working software. Born from the Agile Manifesto in 2001, it represents a fundamental shift from traditional waterfall methodologies. The approach values individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. Core Agile principles include delivering value incrementally and frequently, welcoming changing requirements throughout development, maintaining sustainable development pace, building projects around motivated individuals, promoting face-to-face communication, and measuring progress through working software. Popular Agile frameworks include Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming, and SAFe. Teams work in short iterations called sprints, typically one to four weeks, delivering potentially shippable increments. Regular ceremonies like daily standups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives ensure alignment and continuous improvement. Agile enables product teams to validate assumptions quickly, respond to market changes, reduce risk through early feedback, and maintain focus on delivering customer value. Success requires cultural commitment beyond process adoption.