A small error can become a major problem when building software. A feature that looks fine today…. May break tomorrow if not tested well.
In fact, a recent study shows that fixing an error after the product is released costs 100x more than fixing it during development.
That’s where Extreme Programming (XP) comes in.
Extreme Programming (XP) is a simple way of building software by constant testing, teamwork, and fast feedback. Instead of waiting until the final step, XP checks the code at every step, so the team catches issues early.
So, let’s get to know about Extreme Programming (XP) in detail.
What is Extreme Programming (XP)?
Extreme Programming (XP) is a software development method. It emphasizes speed, teamwork, and quality.
XP provides software that fits people’s needs. It does this by using short cycles, sharing responsibility, and regularly improving the code.
Additionally, it tests at every step of development, rather than writing all the code first and testing it later. This way, it is easier to catch small mistakes before they turn into bigger issues.
What makes XP even more powerful? how it handles the changes demanded by the users. The team can solve & adjust the changes without starting from scratch.
Life Cycle of Extreme Programming (XP)
Extreme Programming follows a cycle that keeps work simple, fast, and focused on user needs. Here are the main stages:
Planning: The first stage begins with a team meeting with customers to gather information, which is written as short ‘user stories’.
These are short statements describing the features users need. These stories are then estimated and prioritized, and a release schedule is made with short, frequent iterations (1-3 weeks).
Design: Once the plan is clear, the team thinks about how to build it. XP focuses on the simplest design possible instead of choosing a complicated design.
The team then clearly explained the basic architecture. This helped everyone understand it without adding any extra complexity.
Coding: Now you have the design. In this stage, developers work in pairs (Pair programming) to share ideas and catch mistakes early.
Testing: As soon as the code is written, it’s time to test it.
Testing includes:
- Unit test: This checks if each feature works as intended.
- Acceptance test: This ensures the system meets the agreed requirements.
As the testing is done during the development, it will be easier to catch bugs earlier.
Listening: Constant customer feedback is something that plays an essential part in the XP.
After every short cycle, the team discusses results and adds changes as per the customer’s feedback. This ensures the product stays in line with actual users’ needs.
12 Key Practices of Extreme Programming
Below are the 12 key practices that the team uses to build better software.
- Test-driven development (TDD)
Start by writing the test before touching the actual code. With this habit, you would be able to spot bugs easily at an early stage and ensure that the code is acting as you had planned. - Plan together
Developers and customers meet often. They decide which features to build next. They also plan short work cycles, called iterations. - On-Site customers
The customer is always there to answer questions and help set priorities. This keeps the team focused on what truly matters. - Pair programming
Two codes work together on the same code. One writes and the other reviews mistakes and suggests improvements. - 5. Code Refactoring
This practice involves making the code simpler and cleaner. Just make it easier to maintain and update later. - 6. Continuous Integration
Developers merge their code multiple times a day and run tests to make sure everything works smoothly together. - 7. Small Releases
Release small chunks of working software often to get feedback and improve step-by-step. - 8. Keep It Simple
We only build what’s needed right now. No extra, complicated stuff that isn’t useful yet. - 9. Same Style for All
Everyone follows the same simple rules for writing code. This makes the code easy to read and understand for all team members. - 10. Everyone Owns the Code
No single person owns one part of the code. Anyone can change or fix anything. This makes teamwork faster. - 11. Use Simple Stories
We use simple examples or stories (like metaphors) to explain how the system works. This helps everyone understand it better. - 12. Work Normal Hours
We don’t work endless hours. A normal 40-hour week is enough. This keeps the team fresh and productive.
Core Values and Principles of Extreme Programming That Make It Work
Back in the late 90s, Kent Beck put together a set of values and principles that shaped Extreme Programming (XP). His idea was simple: if teams follow these, they’ll work together better and build higher-quality software.
Core Principle of Extreme Programming (XP):
Extreme Programming is built on 5 simple principles. These guide how teams work and make sure the product keeps improving. Here’s what they mean in plain words:
- Rapid feedback: In XP, feedback is given and used right away. Team members don’t wait days or weeks, they act on it immediately. This helps fix problems early and keeps the project on track.
- Assumed Simplicity: Developers don’t make things complex; instead, they focus on what’s important at the moment.
XP follows two key ideas:
- YAGNI (You Ain’t Gonna Need It): Don’t build features you don’t need right now.
- DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself): Don’t write the same code or logic again and again.
- Incremental changes: XP emphasizes small changes rather than massive updates at once. During this, if something breaks, the developer can easily locate and fix the issue.
- Embracing change: If any customer wants something different, the team figures out how to make it happen by using XP without any stress or drama.
- Quality work: XP is of the view that a well-motivated and happy team comes up with quality software. When the developers take pride in what they are doing, they tend to concentrate on the value delivery and the maintenance of the product.
Values of Extreme Programming (XP):
Extreme Programming (XP) is built on a few core values that make software adaptable, reliable, and valuable for users. Here’s what drives XP:
- Communication: Clear and frequent interaction is the heartbeat of XP. The team talks every day. They share ideas and solve problems together. This way, everyone understands and can act quickly when things change.
- Respect: Every team member’s opinion counts. This principle of XP creates a supportive environment where everyone’s input is valued.
- Simplicity: XP believes in doing only what’s needed today. This principle aims to create simple solutions. It keeps the code clean and easy to maintain. Also, it helps avoid wasting time on unnecessary features.
- Feedback: Instead of waiting months for user reviews, XP helps you get the feedback early and often.
- Courage: Teams must be brave enough to make changes, throw away code that doesn’t work, or challenge unclear requirements. Courage keeps the project moving forward without fear of mistakes.
Wrapping up
So, what’s XP really about? Clean code. Testing as you go. And moving fast when things change, because they always do.
The best part?
XP helps teams reduce errors, deliver updates quickly, and keep customers satisfied with exactly what they need.
The companies not using XP are stuck fixing problems late and moving more slowly than they should. So the real question is: are you ready to build smarter with XP, or let your competitors ship better software first?
