Agile

[oldbanger]

I know someone on PH mentioned Agile to me about a year ago and I did some research then which I found useful, but I think I need to do more than dip my toe into this. So, can anyone point me in the right direction to learn more about agile/scrum please? Google gives so many results, it's difficult to work out what training, books, forums etc might be of most benefit. I would consider distance learning, if affordable, so formal training is an option if available.

Thanks in advance.

[SlidingSideways]

These should get you started:
Scrum - http://www.scrumalliance.org/
The Agile Manifesto - http://agilemanifesto.org/

Have a look for books by any of the names mentioned on the second page.
Agile is not exactly one thing to learn, more a collection of behaviours and techniques. You can use as few/many of them as you wish.

Have a read of articles on:
- Test Driven Development
- Behaviour Driven Development (we use http://cukes.info/ it's available for platforms other than Ruby)
- Continuous Integration
- Pair Programming

If you're planning on doing this in a Java environment, I can give you some more links that would be useful.

[300bhp/ton]

oldbanger said:

I know someone on PH mentioned Agile to me about a year ago and I did some research then which I found useful, but I think I need to do more than dip my toe into this. So, can anyone point me in the right direction to learn more about agile/scrum please? Google gives so many results, it's difficult to work out what training, books, forums etc might be of most benefit. I would consider distance learning, if affordable, so formal training is an option if available.

Thanks in advance.

Get yourself to one of the forums or conferences (lots held in London, butt must happen elsewhere). Often you can get tickets for free at the last min.

Checkout providers like Unicom. Or the SpinLondon network.

[mikef]

From what perspective are you looking at agile? As a developer, test engineer, analyst, manager, business stakeholder?

[oldbanger]

mikef said:

From what perspective are you looking at agile? As a developer, test engineer, analyst, manager, business stakeholder?

As a manager, not in software development though.

[oldbanger]

Thanks 300bhp and Sliding ... going away to look at what you've both suggested.

[mikef]

oldbanger said:

mikef said:

From what perspective are you looking at agile? As a developer, test engineer, analyst, manager, business stakeholder?

As a manager, not in software development though.

I would start here:

Management 3.0 - Leading Agile Developers, Developing Agile Leaders
Jurgen Appelo, Addison Wesley ISBN 978-0-321-71247-9
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Management-3-0-Developers-...

One thing to be wary of: agile is plagued by a disproportionate proportion of charlatans; I would be careful going in to seminars, coaching, conferences without references and recommendations.