What is the life cycle of Extreme Programming?

Extreme Programming (XP) is an agile software development process that prioritizes the timely and reliable delivery of high-quality products. The technology, which has been around since the late 1990s, is experiencing a surge in demand. Multiple stages in the Extreme Programming life cycle are taken to guarantee the software is of high quality and is delivered on schedule.

The Extreme Programming life cycle is the journey that takes us from the planning stage to the delivery of the final product. As an Agile methodology, XP works on the principle of iterative cycles, so the life cycle iterates several times until the product is ready. So, let's join the ride that will take us from the planning stage to the completion of the project! 

But how does one go about achieving this? By following its life cycle, of course! In this article, we'll explore the life cycle of Extreme Programming and see how it helps developers create high-quality software promptly.

Stages Of XP Software Development Life Cycle

There are total five stages of the Extreme Programming software development life cycle:

1. Planning

Starting the process off right, the Extreme Programming development life cycle begins with the essential first step of Planning. In this stage, the team talks with the customer to understand the desired product, gathering user stories to form the basis of the project's goals. These stories are estimated and prioritized, then transformed into tasks. This step is crucial in setting the stage for a successful project, ensuring the customer's vision of the software is achieved.

2. Design

In this stage, developers take the user stories and design the code architecture to meet the customer's expectations. This includes deciding on the programming language, environment, libraries, and frameworks to be used in software development.

3. Coding

Here, the development team gets to work on the actual coding of the software. The code is written iteratively, meaning that the code is written in small chunks and tested regularly. This ensures that the code is high quality and that any bugs can be addressed quickly.

4. Testing

Testing is a vital part of the Extreme Programming methodology. Developers write automated tests to ensure that the code is working as expected. This helps identify any potential bugs before the software is released.

5. Listening

Last, the Extreme Programming development life cycle includes the listening stage. At this point, the customer is encouraged to give feedback on the software and provide input to help make it even better. This helps ensure that the software meets the customer's expectations and is of the highest quality.

By following the Extreme Programming life cycle, developers can create high-quality software in a timely manner. The iterative approach ensures that any potential bugs are addressed quickly, while the listening stage helps ensure that the customer's expectations are met. With Extreme Programming, software development teams can create reliable, robust software that meets the customer's needs.

What Are The Values of Extreme Programming? 

 XP is based on five fundamental values that promote collaboration, communication, and trust among team members and stakeholders. These values are Respect, Feedback, Simplicity, Communication, & Courage.

• Communication is at the heart of XP. It encourages team members to share ideas and knowledge and to work together to solve problems. Communication also involves providing feedback and listening to feedback from team members and stakeholders. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the team is working towards the same goal.
• Simplicity is also a key value in XP. It encourages teams to keep the design of their software as simple as possible and to focus on delivering what the customer needs. This helps to reduce complexity and ensure that the team has a clear understanding of the software requirements.
• Feedback helps teams to identify problems early and to make improvements quickly. XP encourages teams to provide feedback to each other and stakeholders so that everyone is kept up to date on the project's progress.
• XP also places a high value on respect and courage. Delivering software successfully requires mutual regard among team members and with the project's stakeholders. Taking calculated risks and thinking creatively is essential for issue-solving, but it took courage to do so.

By following these values, teams can create high-quality software in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Core Practices of Extreme Programming (XP)

Extreme Programming isn't just a set of stages; it's built upon specific practices that ensure the methodology's success. Understanding these practices will give you a clearer picture of how XP functions in real-world scenarios.

1.Test-Driven Development (TDD)

In XP, writing tests before coding is a standard practice. By crafting tests first, you define the desired behavior of the code upfront. This approach ensures that the code meets the specified requirements and facilitates early defect detection, leading to more reliable and maintainable software.

2.Pair Programming

Pair programming involves two developers working together at one workstation. One writes the code (the "driver") while the other reviews each line (the "observer" or "navigator"). This collaboration enhances code quality, fosters knowledge sharing, and reduces the likelihood of errors.

3.Continuous Integration

XP advocates for integrating code changes into the main codebase frequently, often multiple times a day. Continuous integration ensures that new code is compatible with existing code, allows for early detection of integration issues, and keeps the software in a deployable state.

4.Refactoring With System Metaphor

Regularly revisiting and improving existing code without altering its external behavior is known as refactoring. This practice helps maintain a clean and efficient codebase, making it easier to understand, modify, and extend. Using a simple shared story or metaphor to describe how the system works helps team members and stakeholders understand the project's structure and design principles. It provides a shared vision and guides development decisions.

5.Small Releases

Delivering software in smaller frequent releases allows teams to gather feedback early and often. This approach ensures that the product evolves aligned with user needs and reduces the risk of deviating from project goals.

6.Collective Code Ownership Following Coding Standards

In XP, the codebase is owned collectively by the team. Any team member can modify any part of the code at any time. This collective ownership encourages responsibility, facilitates knowledge sharing, and prevents bottlenecks.

Adhering to consistent coding standards ensures uniformity across the codebase. It makes the code more readable and maintainable, allowing any team member to understand and work on any part of the project seamlessly.

Conclusion :

In conclusion, the life cycle of Extreme Programming provides a framework for teams to create quality software in a timely and efficient manner. The iterative approach of Planning, designing, coding, testing and listening helps ensure that the customer's expectations of the software are met and that any potential bugs are addressed quickly. In addition, the values of communication, simplicity, feedback, respect, and courage help promote collaboration, communication, and trust among team members and stakeholders, resulting in high-quality software.

Reference

1. https://hygger.io/blog/life-cycle-of-extreme-programming/
2. https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/business/extreme-programming-values-principles-and-practices/