Agile Methodologies
An overview of Agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban frameworks, writing and testing user stories, sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily stand-ups.
Agile Methodologies
Agile is an iterative, incremental approach to software development that adapts to changing requirements. Scrum and Kanban are two popular frameworks in Agile.
Scrum and Kanban Frameworks
Scrum
- Used to manage complex projects.
- Focuses on delivering features in small, time-boxed intervals called sprints (2-4 weeks).
Key Components:
- Roles:
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master
- Development Team
- Events:
- Sprint Planning
- Daily Stand-ups
- Sprint Review
- Sprint Retrospective
- Artifacts:
- Product Backlog: A prioritized list of all features, bugs, and enhancements.
- Sprint Backlog: Tasks to be completed within a sprint.
- Increment: Shippable features completed in the sprint.
Kanban
- Focuses on visualization and the flow of work.
- Encourages continuous delivery without fixed time intervals.
- Ideal for teams with unpredictable workloads.
Key Features:
- Visualization: Kanban board with columns (e.g., To-Do, In-Progress, Done).
- Work-in-Progress (WIP) Limits: Set a limit on tasks per column to avoid bottlenecks.
- Focuses on workflow rather than time-boxing.
| Aspect | Scrum | Kanban |
|---|---|---|
| Roles | Fixed roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team) | No assigned roles |
| Iteration | 2-4 weeks | Continuous delivery |
| Planning | Requires detailed planning | Minimal planning |
| Focus | Sprint backlog | Entire workflow |
| Best For | Teams with clear goals and timelines | Teams with dynamic workloads and ongoing tasks |
Writing and Testing User Stories
User Story
A user story is a short, simple description of a feature or functionality from the perspective of the end user.
Format:
As a [type of user], I want to [goal or task], so that I can [benefit or value].
Characteristics of a Good User Story:
- Independent: Can be completed without dependencies on other stories.
- Small: Can be completed within a sprint.
- Testable: Acceptance criteria can be verified.
- Value-Adding: Provides value to the end user.
- Estimatable: Can be estimated in terms of effort.
Acceptance Criteria
Defines the conditions to mark the user story as complete.
Example:
Scenario 1: Adding a product to the cart Given: I am on the product page When: I click "Add to Cart" Then: The product is added to the cart, and a confirmation message is displayed.
Scenario 2: Viewing products in the cart Given: The cart contains products When: I click "View Cart" Then: The products in the cart should be displayed.
Sprint Planning, Retrospectives, and Daily Stand-Ups
Sprint Planning
- A meeting held at the start of a sprint to decide the sprint backlog.
- Prioritize Tasks: Product Owner identifies the highest-priority items.
- Task Breakdown: The development team breaks down tasks into smaller units.
- Effort Estimation: Use story points to estimate effort.
- Sprint Backlog: Finalize tasks to be completed during the sprint.
Daily Stand-Ups
- A short meeting (≤15 minutes) to enhance team collaboration.
- Focuses on:
- What you did yesterday.
- What you will do today.
- Any blockers or issues.
Retrospectives
- Conducted at the end of a sprint to reflect and improve.
- Discuss:
- What went well.
- What didn’t go well.
- Areas for improvement.
- Decide actionable steps for what to start, stop, and continue.