Outside the Code

Using agile ideas to drive product success

Languages and applications development frameworks continue to get more capable, more dependable, and help us build applications faster than every before. But building good applications fast usually draws attention to what we all know is the toughest part of software development: figuring out what to build.

The good news is that while tools we use to build software have been improving, the tools we use to figure out what to build have been improving too. This short talk focuses on the techniques we use outside the software to collaborate and plan with our customers and users. You’ll learn about concepts and techniques for effectively talking about and representing your product ideas, for understanding the people who use your software, and how to leverage iterative and incremental development to learn faster and reduce risk.

As a responsible software craftsman, you’ll walk away with ideas for matching your skills outside the code with your skills inside the code.

Bio

Jeff Patton has designed and developed software for the past 12 years on a wide variety of projects from on-line aircraft parts ordering to electronic medical records. Jeff has focused on Agile approaches since working on an early Extreme Programming team in 2000. In particular Jeff has specialized in the application of user centered design techniques to improve Agile requirements, planning, and products. Some of his recent writing on the subject can be found at www.AgileProductDesign.com and Alistair Cockburn’s Crystal Clear. His forthcoming book to be released in Addison-Wesley’s Agile Development Series gives tactical advice to those seeking to deliver useful, usable, and valuable software.

Jeff works currently as an independent consultant, is founder and list moderator of the agile-usability Yahoo discussion group, a columnist with StickyMinds.com and IEEE Software, and a winner of the Agile Alliance’s 2007 Gordon Pask Award for contributions to Agile Development.