Crystal/Adaptive Software Development

Contents

The family of Crystal methodologies, created by Alistair Cockburn, was designed as a "human-powered" approach to software development. Available in many "flavors," such as Crystal Clear and Crystal Orange, these methodolgies are centered around the team and individuals involved in the software process instead of a more process-oriented approach. Among other things, Crystal provides suggestions for team organization and managment intended to reduce bureaucracy and paperwork while increasing teamwork, personal satisfaction, and communication. At its core, Crystal methods seek to find the simplest and most compact team structure and process for an organization, thus making the development process more speedy and efficient.

James Highsmith, the author of Adaptive Software Development, joins Cockburn in supporting not only a change in process, but a change in lifestyle. Adaptive Software Development focuses on preparing organizations for a world where requirements change and flexibility is a necessity. The process and structure of the organization must itself be flexible enough to adapt to the changing directions the evolution of a software product may entail.

Books:

James A. Highsmith III, Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems

Web Sites/Web Pages:

Adaptive Software Development

Crystal/Adaptive Software Development

Articles:

Highsmith, J., Messy, Exciting, and Anxiety-Ridden: Adaptive Software Development, American Programmer, vol. X, no. 1, January 1997.

Images on this page taken from Crystal Methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.