Extreme Programming, Waterfall, Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Lean – What’s the Difference?

There are lots of software development methodologies today. Some people may wonder what the best is. Many of them compare the Extreme Programming method (XP) to other methodologies to figure out its advantages and disadvantages. We will also provide an analysis of this issue. But first of all, we need to figure out what Extreme Programming exactly is.

Extreme Programming and Agile

The most general definition of the XP method says that it is one of the Agile approaches to software development. Agile originated at the beginning of 2000s as a methodology aimed at improving the efficiency of the software development process. Unlike traditional approaches, it is based on the principles of strong customer involvement in the process of software development and self-managing teams. As one of the Agile

As one of the Agile methodologies, Extreme Programming also shares these principles. However, it has a number of specific features that allow distinguishing it from other Agile approaches. The main goal of every XP project is to provide a high-quality product to the customer in the shortest term. Like other Agile methodologies, Extreme Programming involves the client in the process of software development. However, unlike other Agile approaches, it has no intermediaries between the customer and the team. All the work on XP projects is subdivided into small sections. Each of them has its own plan that can be changed in the process of its performance.

Like other Agile methodologies, Extreme Programming involves the client into the process of software development. However, unlike other Agile approaches, it has no intermediaries between the customer and the team. All the work on XP projects is subdivided into small sections. Each of them has its own plan that can be changed in the process of its performance. Usually, these segments last from one to three weeks.

Focus on engineering solutions is another distinctive feature of the XP methodology. It allows running Extreme Programming projects at a top speed because almost all the testing activities are automated.

Now, after viewing the definition of Extreme Programming and describing its place in the Agile methodology we can compare it to other software development practices.

Extreme Programming vs. Waterfall    

Waterfall is another name for the traditional approach to software development. Before the Agile method was invented, all the projects were managed in Waterfall style. This good old methodology is sequential. Its projects have a number of stages (usually no less than five) they have to pass before delivering to the customer.

The testing in Waterfall is conducted only at the final stages of work. That is why it is sometimes hard to fix the bugs that occurred at the early stages of project’s realization with the means of this methodology.

Extreme Programming has lots of features that distinguish it from the Waterfall approach.

• First of all, it is iterative. Instead of having a number of sequential stages it runs the same lifecycle time after time until the final product is created.
• The next difference between Extreme Programming and Waterfall is the XP team. It is actually an Agile team without a strict structure. Like other Agile teams, it is self-managing.
• The constant involvement of the customer in the process of software development is another feature that distinguishes the XP methodology from Waterfall.

Extreme Programming vs. Scrum

Both Scrum and XP are Agile methodologies. That is why they are quite similar. However, they have also some differences. Generally, there are four main differences between Scrum and Extreme programming.

• First of all, the XP iterations are shorter. A Scrum sprint usually lasts about three weeks, and a stage of an Extreme Programming project may take only one or two weeks.
• The second difference is the ability to make changes in the iteration plans. In Scrum, a sprint plan cannot be changed after it was accepted. In XP the plan change is possible even during the process of work.
• The next distinguish between Extreme Programming and Scrum is that the XP teams work only in strict priority order. They must follow the customer’s priorities without changing them. And the final difference is that XP, unlike Scrum, prescribes various engineering practices.

Extreme Programming vs. Kanban

The main difference between these two Agile methods is that Kanban does not divide the workflow into iterations. XP, on the other hand, is an iterative method.

Extreme Programming vs. Lean

Both of these methods are aimed at providing a high-quality product to the customer as fast as it is possible. But unlike the XP method, the Lean approach is focused on delivering small pieces of production upon the request of the customer whenever he wants.

Extreme Programming and Pair Programming

Pair Programming is one of the XP methodology tools. Its idea is simple. When using Pair Programming, two people who work at one computer write all the code. Such an approach requires good coordination and communication between the team members. When used correctly, it allows improving the efficiency of workflow almost twice as rapidly. That is the main reason for Pair Programming method’s popularity among the XP developers.