The four values of the Agile Manifesto
The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values and principles for Agile software development. It consists of four fundamental values:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. This value emphasizes the importance of the people on a software development team and how they interact with each other. The Agile Manifesto suggests that while tools and processes are essential, the team members are even more so.
- Working software over comprehensive documentation. This value suggests that delivering working software to customers is more critical than spending time creating detailed documentation. The Agile Manifesto places a high priority on shipping software and gathering feedback to improve future releases.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. This value suggests that working closely with customers to ensure the product meets their needs is more important than focusing on strict contracts. The Agile Manifesto focuses on continuous development and building a feedback loop with customers.
- Responding to change over following a plan. This value suggests that a software development team should be able to pivot and change direction when necessary rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. The Agile Manifesto advocates for a flexible roadmap that can change as needed.
The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values prioritizing people, working software, customer collaboration, and adaptability in software development. They are meant to be applied flexibly, depending on the specific needs of each project and team.