"In this second edition of "Extreme Programming Explained, " Kent Beck organizes and presents five years' worth of experiences, growth, and chan... read full description
reviews
Oct 07, 2011
Jean
rated it: 
eXtreme Programming 2.0.
Actually, it's a complete rewrite of the first edition.
Actually, it's more like reinventing XP. Kent Beck is adjusting XP so we can benefit from his additional five years of XP experience. The first XP was squarely aimed at programmers; this new version should appeal to everyone involved in software development. The practices have been updated: some have been dropped, some are new. He recommends a much more gradual introduction if you want to move to XP, instead of th More...
Actually, it's a complete rewrite of the first edition.
Actually, it's more like reinventing XP. Kent Beck is adjusting XP so we can benefit from his additional five years of XP experience. The first XP was squarely aimed at programmers; this new version should appeal to everyone involved in software development. The practices have been updated: some have been dropped, some are new. He recommends a much more gradual introduction if you want to move to XP, instead of th More...
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Oct 04, 2009
Darryl
rated it:
Although I didn't always agree with the author's conclusions, I loved this book. The five-star score is a rating of the book, not XP itself. The book does a wonderful job of tieing practices back to principles and values. XP practices and the reasoning behind them are explained in enough detail that you can work them into your teams starting now. I think this is the book's main goal, and it has been reached.
The book is not without flaws. The author makes a number of assumptions More...
The book is not without flaws. The author makes a number of assumptions More...
Jan 07, 2009
Thomas
rated it:
I found this to be a fascinating book which explores some of the principles behind agile development instead of a more cookbook approach. I found it to be very insightful and that the principles Beck expounds ring true to me. If you just want an implementation guide this will not be it. But in my opinion understanding the principles behind Agile is more important than an implementation.
Aug 10, 2009
Nicholas
rated it: 
Interesting read even if you don't know anything about coding. Don't let the lack of quotes belie this book. There was nothing that jumped off the page but it was all good. Short and too the point too.
Quotes:
"One way a test can pay off is when a test works that you didn't expect to work. Then you better go find out why it works, because the code is smarter than you are."
Quotes:
"One way a test can pay off is when a test works that you didn't expect to work. Then you better go find out why it works, because the code is smarter than you are."
Jan 01, 2011
David
rated it:
A very good read that introduces the topic of Extreme Programming extremely well.
This book does a great job of conveying the practices, principles and values of XP to its target audience. Its style should be familiar to those who have read Kent Beck's other books - it gets right to the point, doesn't repeat itself very much and is split into chapters where they make sense without any artificial bloating of chapters to make them 'the right size' (several chapters are only 2 sides, for e More...
This book does a great job of conveying the practices, principles and values of XP to its target audience. Its style should be familiar to those who have read Kent Beck's other books - it gets right to the point, doesn't repeat itself very much and is split into chapters where they make sense without any artificial bloating of chapters to make them 'the right size' (several chapters are only 2 sides, for e More...
Jan 29, 2012
Carl
rated it:
A sermon from the prophet. Beck had a big hand in inventing eXtreme Programming and early work on Agile methods. He really, REALLY believes in XP, as he makes clear in this book.
The book is more of a discussion of philosophy in software development and managing development teams, vs. a guide for using the XP methods. Although he does lay out the fundamental goals, practices and values, little attention is given to how to get buy-in to following them. Short shrift is given to the con More...
The book is more of a discussion of philosophy in software development and managing development teams, vs. a guide for using the XP methods. Although he does lay out the fundamental goals, practices and values, little attention is given to how to get buy-in to following them. Short shrift is given to the con More...
Dec 27, 2009
Kristjan
rated it:
If you want to get an introduction to eXtreme Programming, this is the book for you. Kent Beck explains the basics, allowing the reader to understand not only what techniques are used, but why they are used.
Ultimately, I didn't find XP the right fit for me, but this book allowed me to evaluate the method on its merits.
Ultimately, I didn't find XP the right fit for me, but this book allowed me to evaluate the method on its merits.
Jul 17, 2011
David
rated it:
Extreme Programming (XP) is a development methodology that acknowledges that both developers customers matter. It acknowledges that people have strengths and weaknesses, and that it chooses to work with those weaknesses rather than against it. This is in contrast to most of the traditional software development methodologies, where emphasis in placed mostly on processes.
This book provides a balanced introduction and explanation of XP. Even as it espouses the good, it also highlights l More...
This book provides a balanced introduction and explanation of XP. Even as it espouses the good, it also highlights l More...
Feb 16, 2011
Ben
rated it:
This entire series is a must read, so that you're at least knowledgeable when you come down on one side or the other of this debate (which is still ongoing after 10 years). I for one liked Explained because it broke down the patterns and team theories for people to more easily understand their rewards
Feb 23, 2008
Jim
rated it: 
No doubt the ideas brought forth in Beck's work will generate controversy. He writes as he preaches, simple and courageous. I read the book in 3 hours and am still thinking heavily about its message. Current technological advances may actually allow his approach to work but it will be a tough sell to any customer comfortable with current methodologies. Beck's zeal is contagious but it comes across as rationalization for the lazy way I want to code. Frankly, what he espouses could be downright da
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Dec 30, 2009
Ash
rated it:
Awesome. Focused, insightful and balanced. I don't think I could have learnt Agile from this alone, as it's too abstract, but it really sets the bar for what you can aspire to as a software developer. Everyone involved in software should read this.
Feb 04, 2012
Stephen
rated it:
This is the book that changed my programming and consulting career. It provided a jargon for a few things I was already doing, and introduced me to many ideas that have made all the difference in the years since.
Aug 03, 2009
Pat
rated it:
Fairly interesting book about what extreme programming is about but being in a formal (FDA regulated) environment there is little chance of using this though perhaps for internal programs we might be able to.
Nov 13, 2011
Jon
rated it:
I didn't actually find this quite as compelling as, say, Mike Cohn's writing on agile and scrum. I think that's Beck's writing style though. The content is solid and valuable.
Jul 17, 2011
Jack
rated it:
This is one of the master-works of the Agile movement, Extreme Programming (XP) variant. XP (and therefore, this book) focuses particularly on the workgroup dynamics, and leaves out discussion of some surrounding bits that are none the less necessary (like "release planning"), which is why the most popular Agile style is widely quoted as "XP plus Scrum." So, don't look here for questions like "how do we decide what to do?" or "how do we handle institutional sta
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May 16, 2010
Consider reading the first edition, too, to see how Kent's views have evolved. There are significant differences.
Jun 03, 2010
Kevin
rated it:
This book has a lot of good advice, if you don't get too caught up in all of the "extreme programming" hype.
Feb 10, 2010
Another from the Art of Project Management which will be useful for the type of development we do at PERTS.
Mar 12, 2010
Stefan
rated it:
This is one of the best books on programming I've read. It's more about philosophy than process. Every page is worth it.
Jun 20, 2007
Mark
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This book, like Design Patterns, hasn't aged well for me, but I recall being energized by the concepts when I first read it; it made me excited to code again. If you still don't know what eXtreme Programming is, pick this book up.
(Footnote: my current company actually uses eXtreme Programming and it works pretty well...although, any methodology probably works well if you throw enough developers at it)
(Footnote: my current company actually uses eXtreme Programming and it works pretty well...although, any methodology probably works well if you throw enough developers at it)
Apr 26, 2011
André
rated it:
Aardig boek, maar niet zo goed als ik gehoopt had.
Veel van het advies is niet echt concreet, het blijft erg hangen op het niveau van grote principes. Om het concreet toe te passen is veel meer nodig dan dit.
Veel van het advies is niet echt concreet, het blijft erg hangen op het niveau van grote principes. Om het concreet toe te passen is veel meer nodig dan dit.
Dec 03, 2007
Kevin
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Ok, so software development methodology books are pretty boring by definition, but if you are considering running and XP development shop, you need to read this book.
Jul 17, 2011
Steven
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Very timely in the early 2000s. Fights the bureaucracy of the methodologies of the "3 amigos" - Booch, Rumbaugh and Jacobsen - which became the Unified Process (RUP).
Jun 17, 2008
Morris
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This thankfully slim volume explains the basics of a methodology which, though seldom practiced exactly, offers many techniques I have found to be quite helpful.
Oct 26, 2007
Greg
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Excellent introduction to extreme programming. The test first methodology with very small development milestones is a great way to get a product out quickly.
Jun 01, 2008
David
rated it:
a very different set of concepts from "traditional" programming, and an good introduction into the idea and purpose behind xp/agile software development.
Jul 17, 2011
Nuwan
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This book really helped me to figure out some of the mistakes we made trying to do XP, and why we failed. A must read for everyone...
Jul 27, 2007
Scott
rated it:
This is a great book on XP. Kent Beck is really a pioneer in this field and is definitely worth the time to read what he has to say.
