Book Reading 2: Extreme Programming Installed (CH 1-3)

Reference Information:
Title: Extreme Programming Installed
Authors: Ron Jeffries, Ann Anderson, Chet Hendrickson
Publication: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (October 26, 2000)

Summary:
"Extreme Programming (XP) is a software development methodology which is a part of Agile development methodology. It is intended to improve software quality and responsiveness to changing customer requirements." The author talks about how to deal with changing requirements. This methodology keeps the system built at all times. The responsibilities are divided among customers, programmers and managers.
The author focuses on the importance of the customer being close to the programmers so that if the programmers have any questions, they can immediately approach the customer. Finally it's the customer who makes the calls. The XP process lets the team predict more accurately how much work can be done in a given time frame. Program is based on a simple, clear design which helps to produce the software quickly. Extreme programming is about careful and continuous design, rapid feedback from extensive testing and development of high quality code. Ownership of the code is shared, so the work doesn't get halted for whatever reason. This methodology makes programmers job easy and gives the customer what they need the most - business value.
The manager on the other hand, doesn't actually do things, but he causes the things to be done, coordinates their doing and reports the results. He is responsible for arranging the meetings, resolving conflicts and for ensuring productivity. The manager also gets to give the rewards.
The main advantages of this methodology is that there is extremely good communication between the client and the programmers. The programmers are given the flexibility to choose what they want to work on. The program is built and ready for deployment at all times.

Discussion:
The methodology is brilliantly designed. The designers have addressed almost all the issues that can go wrong in the software development process. Being a part of the agile methodology, XP is definitely very successful in the modern day software development industry. I have had a personal experience using the agile methodology in one of my classes and have seen how well it works. I firmly believe with the author's opinion that the customer should be on-site and very approachable so that programmer's questions and concerns can be solved immediately, without wasting any time.