Extreme Programming

There is a need for an Agile software development framework that delivers superior quality software and enhances responsiveness to changing customer needs. 

This became the origin of Extreme Programming (XP), which was developed to help software development teams make sense of the ever-changing and vague customer stories. It’s a flexible, scientific, and lightweight way to develop software. 

What Is Extreme Programming?

Extreme Programming (XP) is a systematic, low-risk, and predictable approach with a set of practices designed to improve software’s ability to adapt to clients’ changing needs while providing the highest value. It includes standards and principles that guide the behavior of the development team, like demanding test-first strategy, code refactoring, incremental development, and integration testing. 

Today’s development methods are considerably more efficient, yet they don’t fully consider the significance of security. As a result, XP allows the development team to secure codes early through techniques such as pair programming, continuous integration, and test-first programming.

Extreme Programming vs. Agile Development

Agile originated as a technique to improve software efficiency during the software development process. 

But unlike the traditional approaches, Extreme Programming (XP) is based on strong customer involvement and self-organizing teams. Moreover, it gets the end-user involved in the software development process. The ultimate goal of XP is to deliver high-quality products to the end-user in the shortest time.

However, XP is very different to other Agile methodologies. XP has no intermediaries between the development team and the customer. The entire XP project is segmented into small sections with individual rules that can be changed at any time, depending on the nature of the process and performance.

Additionally, Extreme Programming (XP) takes a focus-driven approach to engineer solutions, distinguishing it from other Agile methodologies. This allows XP projects to automate all testing activities, which results in speedy completion of the project. 

Extreme Programming Model

Unlike other methodologies, the Extreme Programming Model is very opinionated when it comes to engineering practices. Moreover, it’s built on values and practices that provide purpose to the development teams. 

Extreme Programming is more than just a few series of steps that help manage a development project. Instead, it assists managers through effective collaboration and speedy production. The values of the Extreme Programming methodology include:

Simplicity

The teams must always strive to do the simplest thing that works. Most often, it’s misunderstood and taken as the simplest thing where the teams ignore the “that works” part. 

Streamlined Communication

Lack of communication prevents knowledge from flowing within the development team. The lack of communication prevents all team members from learning about the issue or contributing to its solutions. When a challenge arises, a team member who already knows how to solve the problem won’t have a clue. 

Constructive And Consistent Feedback

Feedback in more traditional Waterfall-like software development practices usually comes in at the late stage, when it’s useless. Conversely, XP embraces change, and teams are encouraged to share constructive feedback at an early stage. 

Respect 

Everyone in the team cares about work, and no technical knowledge has the capability to save a project when there’s no care or respect. 

Courage 

Courage can be explained as effective action in the face of fear where team members have plenty of chances to be afraid and, at the same time, plenty of opportunities to show courage. Indeed, it takes courage to speak the truth and take responsibility. 

Wrapping Up

Extreme Programming (XP) is a practical and systematic Agile framework that offers proven benefits to businesses and solves software development problems like slipped schedules, canceled projects, post-delivery detects, etc.

Most Agile frameworks focus on project or product management, whereas Extreme Programming shines a spotlight on good practices, where other methodologies fail.