#adaptivesoftwaredevelopment

Introduction

Adaptive Software Development (ASD) is a less known framework among the other Agile frameworks such as extreme programming and Scrum. The reason for its less popularity with the industry folks may be the misconception that it cannot be an ideal framework to meet the demands of the ever-changing and fast-paced environment of the software development lab.

The good news is that it is merely a misconception. And, the bad news is, it does shatter your belief, and hence, challenges you to unlearn, relearn and seamlessly adapt to your own new belief system!

Adaptive Software Development is one of the earliest agile methodologies. It was a result of the work by Jim Highsmith and Sam Bayer on Rapid Application Development (RAD). This methodology interestingly validates the fact that it is quite normal to have continuous adaptation to the software development process.

This validation removes the fear of the unknown and uncertainty often involved in any software development cycle. In fact, this validation has paved the way for the later methodologies to welcome uncertainty and chaos with a more open and balanced mind.

Let us then explore various dimensions of this less popular Adaptive Software Development agile methodology.

A short history

Adaptive Software Development in software engineering is a classic example of necessity is the mother of invention adage. In the early 1990s, when Sam Bayer and Jim Highsmith were making the most out of RAD and creating RADical Software Development, they realized that these approaches were not enough.

It was important to have a process that encouraged collaboration inside the organization as well as with the clients. They realized that they needed the process that makes all the stakeholders at ease with the inherent uncertainty of software development while making room for continuous, consistent, and genuine learning during the process itself.

It is out of these needs that Adaptive Software Development came into being. Highsmith published a book called: Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems in 2000, and both Bayer and Highsmith became one of the signers of the 2001 Agile Manifesto.

In the world of technology, Adaptive Software Development introduced:

Shorter iterations

More speed

More collaboration

More ease with the uncertainty

More openness to unlearn and relearn.

What is Adaptive Software Development?

ASD is a development methodology that encourages continuous learning throughout the software development project. It believes that this is the only correct way to sail through software development’s inherent complexity smoothly. Following rigid plans or principles does not add value to the business or the product; it propounds.

Adaptive Software development sets forth minimum guidelines, making it a minimalist approach that intends to improve efficiency by removing everything and anything that is not ‘fun’ and ‘organic.’

Yes, ASD strongly advocates a software development process that is fun to be in as well as natural or organic. Highsmith has an interesting term for this— emergence. He believes that the best software is always a result of a chance.

When necessary circumstances come together on their own, they lead to a product that has the potential to make a difference in the world. This coming together of circumstances is emergence, according to Highsmith.

Following are some of the major principles that define ASD:

Enough room for emergence as opposed to determinism

Focus on results that are called application features as opposed to tasks

Prefers deeper change in management cycle over the superficial change in the life cycle

Orientation towards high-speed iterations and life cycles

Use of techniques such as timeboxed iterative cycles and risk-driven planning

Ability to quickly deliver the value-added product to the customer in spite of having enough room for uncertainty and chaos.

In Adaptive Software Development, projects go through an iterative cycle. This cycle involves three phases that often overlap. Let us explore each in detail.

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