eXtreme Programming (XP) info

Welcome to the eXtreme Programming (XP) resource center !

Extreme programming is an agile software development methodology. The aim is to deliver high-quality software that brings value to its users, and this in a rapid and regular way.

Where can you find more information ?

• A Gentle Introduction to eXtreme Programming (XP) - The goal of this site is to provide an introduction and overview of Extreme Programming (XP), and a guided tour of XP
• The Scrum Alliance - The Scrum Alliance is a community-driven program focused on the communication of Scrum processes and engineering practices to development teams including their management and business owners.
• Agile Alliance -
• eXtreme Programming Resource - articles about the state of XP, techniques, tips, and experience reports
• Refactoring.com - Martin Fowler has created a web site for information about refactoring including updates to his book
• The Case Against Extreme Programming - Matt Stephens does not believe in XP
• WikiWiki Entry Point for XP - Ward Cunningham's wiki site
• XP Developer - a wiki style discussion group. The discussions are about how to actually do XP.
• XP Exchange - Strictly non-commercial web-site with basic and advanced information about XP. Downloads will include slide sets.
• XPlorations - many good articles targeted at understanding specific XP topics
• Extreme Programming @ Cibit (in Dutch) - Voordelen en kenmerken van XP volgens Cibit
• XP Labs - XPLabs is the first company in Italy and among the first in the world to offer specialized services for software development, consulting, training and mentoring in Extreme Programming (XP).
• Agile testing - Brian Marick - Link collection by testing expert Brian Marick, one of the authors of the Agile Manifesto.
• Extreme Programming Article at E-Business Application Develivery - Jim Highsmith talks about XP in an article in Cutter's magazine
• Introduction to Extreme Programming, Part One: The Case for XP - Paper introducing Extreme Programming (XP) by comparing risk management approaches to development.
• Introduction to Extreme Programming, Part Two: XP Practices - Overview of the twelve XP practices
• Research at University of Utah - a survey of professional programmers who have experience working in pairs
• RUP vs. XP - The Process dX
• XP Enthousiasts at Yahoo! Groups - Another discussion group
• XP FAQ - frequently asked questions
• XP Glossary - A glossary of XP terms

How do you stay up to date ?

• XP Day Benelux 2004 - 19 November 2004 - Mechelen (Belgium) - XP Day Benelux 2004 is a one day conference about Agile Software Development. The sessions are organized by people who have experience with agile methods, like DSDM, Scrum, Extreme Programming, Feature-driven development, and Crystal. The principles of agile software development are described in the Agile Manifesto.
• Yahoo Group on XP - Discussion group on XP
• Third International Conference on eXtreme Programming and Agile Processes in Software Engineering - May 26-29, 2002, in Alghero, Sardinia, Italy
• XP Universe - a conference for learning and sharing about agile software development processes
• XP Day Benelux - XP Day Benelux is a two day international conference about agile software development, intended for software development and business people. It provides a good opportunity for exchanging ideas and sharing experiences.
• Martin Fowler Bliki: Is Agile For All? - Can average developers use agile methods? (Just one of the thoughts and questions in Martin Fowler's Hybrid Blog/Wiki

Who are the market players ?

• Extreme Programming Software Studio - A physical environment (rooms, whiteboards, ...) for doing XP + examples of how this is used (with photographs)
• JDepend - Generates design-quality metrics, dependencies, and cycles for Java packages.
• Object Mentor - XP Immersion Training
• Refactoring Browser - an advanced browser for VisualWorks, VisualWorks/ENVY, and IBM Smalltalk
• Tryx - Belgian company that completely focuses on XP
• XP Software - Unit testing framework for various languages
• Java Refactoring Tool - Java Refactoring tool for refactoring type information
• eXoftware - eXperts in eXtreme Programming (Dublin, Ireland) - offers XP training, mentoring and transition services as well as comprehensive bespoke development services

What can you read about this (books, white papers, articles, ...) ?

• Article: Taking continuous integration to the next level - Introduces an Ant-based build and integration system called BigBrother that leverages XP principles. BigBrother combines several open-source tools into a "continuous integration" system. I also offer a real-world scenario in which BigBrother was used to successfully manage a continuous build process. (use CruiseControl, Clover and other open source software)
• Article: The SCRUM Development Process - Scrum is an agile process for developing software. With Scrum, projects progress via a series of month-long iterations called sprints.
• Article: XP and Change Management - a perspective of what can happen if you use XP, or also "how change leads to improvement"
• Extreme Programming Examined - Papers presented at XP2000. A well rounded set of papers covers most topics.
• Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change - THE book on extreme programming
• Extreme Programming in Practice - Based on the popular XPlorations website. Specific subjects are explored in detail.
• Extreme Programming Installed - This book covers specific XP practices in finer detail than Expreme Programming Explained. This book teaches how to program XP style.
• Planning Extreme Programming - This book presents the latest thoughts on how to plan software in a rapid delivery environment. This book teaches how to run an XP project.
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code - by Martin Fowler et al
• White Paper: Extreme Programming (XP) - an overview of the core practices of XP (extreme programming), also offers strategies for applying these practices (and reaping the benefits) with a global team, and suggestions on how to estimate and price these projects.
• Article: Hacking and Refactoring (Eric Raymond) - The open-source movement and agile programming may be converging. While reading Martin Fowler's excellent book "Refactoring", he realized development by refactoring is a sharp description of the normal style of open-source hackers. In this essay he explores this connection further.
• White Paper: Leading-Edge Technology, Trailing-Edge Management - A few companies are producing better quality software, on time with less staff and at reduced cost. Although 'new' to the software world, the management techniques they are using have been proven to work in the manufacturing world for over twenty years. These agile technologies, as they are known, are gaining more and more ground in software development and may prove to be the disruptive technology that spells the end for some established software development companies who fail to notice the change in paradigm. (eXoftware)
• White Paper: Lessons Learned: Agile Practices and Visual Basic 6.0 - Extreme Programmers rely on tools and techniques such as refactoring, design patterns, simple design, and unit testing. Here's what to do if you want to apply XP techniques in a VB/VB.NET project