Introduction to Agile Methodology & Agile Manifesto

What is Agile?

Agile is an iterative approach to software development that emphasizes delivering small, working pieces of a product frequently, gathering feedback, and adapting plans as requirements evolve. Instead of trying to define every requirement upfront, Agile teams accept that change is inevitable and build processes that welcome it.

The Agile Manifesto

In 2001, a group of software practitioners published the Agile Manifesto, which values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Importantly, the items on the right still have value, but Agile teams value the items on the left more.

The 12 Agile Principles

Supporting the manifesto are twelve principles that stress early and continuous delivery, welcoming changing requirements, frequent delivery of working software, close daily cooperation between business people and developers, motivated individuals, face-to-face conversation, working software as the primary measure of progress, sustainable development pace, technical excellence, simplicity, self-organizing teams, and regular reflection on how to become more effective.

Why Agile Matters for Testers

For testers, Agile means testing is no longer a phase at the end of the project—it becomes a continuous activity woven into every sprint, requiring close collaboration with developers and product owners from day one.