Workflow Tools

Agile workflow tools help teams plan, manage, and orchestrate management and technical activity associated with agile methods. In general, these tools automate the process of planning and managing agile projects. Many traditional tools focus on a narrow aspect of project management such as scheduling. Agile workflow tools, however, cover a broader array of management tasks, including release and iteration plans, user stories, development tasks, and unit and acceptance tests. They even help manage a flexible form of earned value management called burn down charts.

There is a balance of commercial and open source workflow tools for agile methods, ranging from sophisticated web-based applications to simple wikis and specialized utilities. Although the majority of the tools provide support for Extreme Programming and Scrum, there is support for other types of agile methods. Two of the most popular tools—Version One and Rally—provide support for both release and iteration planning. They also help project teams track user stories, developer velocity, and burn down rates. However, simple wikis are powerful tools for sharing information and should not be overlooked to offer support to project management.

There are multiple workflow tools to support project management within agile methods. One of the most basic tools is a whiteboard, often called an information radiator. Another major tool is a wiki, which is useful in small, medium, and large distributed settings. A third type of tool is a multi-faceted, web-based work-flow tool for coordinating the work of large, often virtually distributed teams, such as Version One and Rally. The latter has facilities to plan projects, execute and enforce activity workflow, and provide a picture of a project's current state. Agile methods use right-sized, just-enough, and just-in-time workflow tools to maximize business value.

Collaboration Tools

Agile collaboration tools help teams interact, communicate, and share information necessary for implementing user stories. In general, these tools help small teams communicate and collaborate with one another to accomplish their tasks. Many traditional tools focus on a narrow aspect of collaboration, such as a message board, for posting questions and answers, email, or chatting. Agile collaboration tools, however, provide support for a broader array of collaboration tasks, including voice communications, video conferencing, and virtual software design and development.

There are numerous commercial and open source collaboration tools for agile methods, ranging from sophisticated voice and video applications to wikis. Simple, common, and powerful tools, wikis enable teams to communicate user stories, development tasks, and implementation status. Social networking sites enable teams to share personal data, form trust, establish team cohesion, and improve communication. Some important tools support video and voice communications that are necessary so that teams can leverage the skills of an entire team to solve problems, share the workload, and build trust.

There are multiple collaboration tools to support teamwork within agile methods. Simply talking to another person is one of the most powerful means of human communication, and the telephone is one of the most basic tools for this purpose. Another important element in agile methods is interpersonal trust. Sharing personal data with one another helps build trust, as do social networking sites. Additionally, video conferencing is an important tool in agile methods so that one or more people may work together to solve difficult problems. Agile methods use right-sized, just-enough, and just-in-time collaboration tools to maximize business value.

Development Tools

Agile development tools help teams with design, development, and testing; create working software; and satisfy user stories. In general, these tools help teams with the technical aspects of software development, such as programming and coding. Many traditional tools focus on a narrow aspect of development—editing, compiling, debugging, and making files. Agile development tools, however, provide support for a broader array of development tasks, including graphical interfaces, modelling tools, visual editors, code interpreters, incremental compilation, and reuse libraries.

There are a variety of commercial and open source development tools for agile methods, ranging from sophisticated application development systems to simple support environments. Commercial application development systems provide compilers and interpreters for multiple languages, graphical user interfaces, modelling tools, databases, and a limitless array of features such as Visual Studio. Open source support environments provide simple modelling tools, graphical editors, debuggers, and reusable frameworks such as Eclipse. Commercial tools support proprietary systems, whereas open source tools support multiple platforms.

There are multiple development tools to support the creation of working software in agile methods. One of the most basic tools may be a proprietary or non-proprietary compiler and rudimentary development toolset. The focus of agile methods is to create working software every 14 to 30 days. Because the members of the teams using agile methods must be highly skilled programmers, they need robust development environments, whether commercial or open source, to create complex applications in short order. Agile methods use right-sized, just-enough, and just-in-time development tools to maximize business value.

Support Tools

Agile support tools help teams build and verify working code every 14 to 30 days by providing support for development activities. In general, these tools help teams with direct technical and administrative support for programming and testing. Whereas traditional tools focus on loosely coupled and disconnected code analysis, testing, and version control tools, agile support tools provide a broader array of integrated and streamlined processes and tools. This includes built-in code analysis, automated unit and system tests, complete build automation, and continuous integration.

There are a variety of commercial and open source support tools for agile methods, ranging from sophisticated build automation tools to simple but well-integrated services. Commercial tools provide a variety of code coverage tools, automated testing frameworks, and configuration management systems for end-to-end build automation. Open source tools also provide building blocks for code coverage analysis, unit testing, and build automation. The importance of support tools for agile methods cannot be overstated. In traditional methods, these functions are completed manually by separate organizations.

In agile methods, multiple support tools provide direct support for the creation of working software. Automated testing frameworks and simple open source utilities are the most commonly used tools. Many teams know the importance of commercial solutions that provide well-integrated code analysis, testing, and build automation. The mantra of agile methods is to produce working code in 14- to 30-day iterations. Developers must be highly skilled in programming as well as in the use of support tools. Agile methods use right-sized, just-enough, and just-in-time support tools to maximize business value.