12 Principles of Agile Software Development

While preparing for my guest lecture on technology decisions, I stumbled across a slide with the 12 principles from the agile manifesto. It made me realise again how apt these principles from the agile manifesto from 2001 (!), which are often forgotten in practise, are for product development.

12 Principles of Agile Software Development
Photo by airfocus / Unsplash

While preparing my guest post for the CAS Digital Architect at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, I stumbled across a slide on the 12 principles from the agile manifesto.

This made me realise again how aptly these principles of the agile manifesto from 2001 (!), which are often forgotten in practise, are for product development.

Often only the values from it are known.

Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software

Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software

Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software

Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
Working software is the primary measure of progress.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
Simplicity--the art of maximizing the amount of work not done--is essential.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software
At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.
Source: Twelve Principles of Agile Software