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EPUB The open industry format known for its reflowable content and usability on supported mobile devices.
PDF The popular standard, used most often with the free Acrobat® Reader® software.
This eBook requires no passwords or activation to read. We customize your eBook by discreetly watermarking it with your name, making it uniquely yours.
Rebecca Parsons, Thoughtworks Technology Podcast
Murray Robinson and Shane Gibson, No Nonsense Agile Podcast
Wild West to Agile: The evolution and revolution of software development, drawn from personal experience, from the Apollo moon mission to digital transformations.
In 2023, "technology is your business--no matter what your business." But how did we get here and how could a historical perspective prepare us for the future?
Jim Highsmith tackles the evolution and revolution of software development, embellishes them with personal experiences, from the Apollo moon mission to modern digital transformations, and introduces the adventurous pioneers--from structured era developer Ken Orr to Agile methodologist Kent Beck--who strived to make the world a better place, by building better software.
Jim's six-decade career has encompassed the Wild West (1966-1979), to Structured Methods and Monumental Methodologies (1980s), to the Roots of Agile (1990s), to the present Agile Era (2001-present). In each era, he explores the evolution of software development methods, methodologies, and mindsets.
Whether you are from the 1970-1980's generation looking for an "I was there too" moment, a newer generation interested in the evolution of software development, the Agile generation interested in how Agile methodologies were born and evolved, or have a general interest in information technology, Wild West to Agile has something for you.
"Jim Highsmith is the Forrest Gump of software development. What made the 1994 movie so entertaining was how frequently Forrest found himself in the right spot as history was being made. Unlike Forrest, though, Jim's actions influenced that history."
--Mike Cohn, cofounder of the Agile Alliance, and the Scrum Alliance; author of Succeeding with Agile
"If you want to understand the shape of software development today, this is the book for you. If you want to understand how to navigate a turbulent career with grace & style, this is also the book for you. If you enjoy memoirs, ditto. Enjoy his story."
--Kent Beck, Chief Scientist, Mechanical Orchard; author, Extreme Programming Explained
"This entire journey--beginning with the Wild West era of software development through the Agile Era to today's Digital Transformation era--is entirely empowered by people. Thank you, Jim, for sharing these beautiful stories and honoring the people that were a part of this amazing journey."
--Heidi J. Musser, Vice President and CIO, USAA, retired
"I've always felt that understanding history is important, because it's hard to understand where we are unless you understand the path that we took to get here. Jim's memoir is an entertaining and astute odyssey through this history."
--Martin Fowler, Chief Scientist, Thoughtworks
Foreword by Martin Fowler xvii
Foreword by Heidi J. Musser xix
Preface xxi
Acknowledgments xxv
About the Author xxvii
Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins 1
Career overview 4
Software 7
Software development 8
Software development eras 10
Six decades of change 13
Observations 17
Chapter 2: Wild West 21
Apollo 21
Technology and the world 25
Esso Business Systems 28
Exxon to Oglethorpe 33
Software development 35
Management trends 37
Era observations 42
Chapter 3: Structured Methods and Monumental Methodologies 45
Era overview 49
Software methods 50
Methods, methodologies, and mindsets 57
CSE/Telco 58
Structured pioneers 59
Information Architects, Inc. 66
Technology 68
Monumental Methodologies 70
Waterfall 72
Management 76
CASE tools 79
Era observations 83
Chapter 4: The Roots of Agile 85
Era overview 86
Structured methods to RAD 88
Microsoft 90
RAD to RADical 92
Portland Mortgage Software 92
Information technology 93
Nike 98
Consultants' Camp and Jerry Weinberg 101
RADical to adaptive 105
Collaboration 105
Complex adaptive systems 106
Adaptive software development book 109
Additional agile roots 113
Era observations 116
Chapter 5: The Agile Era 119
New challenges 120
Martin Fowler 122
Trimble Navigation 124
The Agile Manifesto 126
Agile organizations 131
Agile ecosystems 141
Agile methodologies 142
Agile periods 145
Era observations 147
Chapter 6: Rogue Teams 149
Cutter and travels 152
The Mustang Team at Cellular, Inc. 155
Technology (19952007) 157
Three agile stories 163
Agile project management 165
Period observations 169
Chapter 7: Courageous Executives 173
Sciex 174
A new generation of pioneers 178
Integrated Financial Software 180
Southern Systems Software 186
Agile project management 187
Organizational change 196
Software development 200
Scaling agile 203
Athleta 208
Period observations 208
Chapter 8: Digital Transformation 211
Thoughtworks 214
A world accelerating 217
Digital transformation 219
Tech@Core 224
EDGE operating model 226
The unFIX organization model 228
Empathetic and adaptive leadership 232
Period observations 235
Chapter 9: Prepare to Engage the Future 237
Why history? 238
Agile and agility 239
Afterword 245
Appendix 251
References 257
Bibliography 263
Index 265