Those new to Agile software development may not be aware that the Agile Alliance is a non-profit organization that supports individuals and organizations who use agile approaches, driven by the simple priorities articulated in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. At $100 USD a year, membership confers some interesting benefits: discounted registration at the annual Agile2xxx conference, access to Agile Alliance funds for sponsored events, voting in the annual election of board members, a free subscription to Better Software magazine (in the US), and the Alliance's own free quarterly e-magazine Agile Development Magazine.
For the 2700+ members of the Alliance, this week marks the publication of the fist 2007 volume of the Magazine. This quarter's features include:
- Bug Typecasting: Those outside an agile team can be left wondering how they’re supposed to manage defects in an iterative system. Read how one team is keeping it simple. by David Starr
- Setting the Stage for Unit Testing: Most people agree that unit tests are worthwhile, but few take the time to formalize the process. This six-stage template will help you in your efforts to effect a unit testing framework. by Richard Sharpe
- Book Review of Jutta Eckstein’s Agile Software Development in the Large. by Ryan Shriver
- Change Agent Dreamin': Bob Schatz makes the case for the ScrumMaster as a leader and a dreamer.
- Formula for Success: How an agile process had the right properties for a chemistry lab project by Cyril M. Coupal
Note that all attendees of the Agile2006 conference are automatically members for one year. For non-members, a glimpse of Agile Development Magazine is available in this article from last fall's edition: Cultivating Agile Attitudes by Daffyd Rees.