Agile, DevOps and software development methodologies
Agile software development, and popular variations such as Scrum, underpin the work of many developers and testers. Regardless of the team or methodology you currently use, read expert advice on process, structure and skills for Lean, Agile, DevOps, Waterfall and more to make it work in your enterprise.
Top Stories
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Feature
20 Dec 2024
Platform teams draw on DataOps, MLOps to support GenAI
GenAI calls for more rigorous data discipline than previous forms of analytics, but there are lessons platform teams can learn from existing approaches. Continue Reading
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Quiz
17 Dec 2024
Professional Scrum Developer exam questions and answers
Professional Scrum Developer is a highly respected certification, but it's not easy to get. Take this sample PSD exam to test yourself and see how prepared you are for the exam. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jan 2024
Cloud and observability tools help global first responders
How an NGO 'Uber for ambulances' service used observability tools from New Relic to improve AWS-based app performance under life-and-death circumstances. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2024
How to write a sprint goal in Scrum
The product of every sprint planning session is a sprint goal. Here, we look at its purpose along with how to write a sprint goal properly. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Dec 2023
session ID
A session ID, also called a session token, is a unique identifier that a web server assigns to a user for the duration of the current session. Continue Reading
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News
19 Dec 2023
DevSecOps pros prep for GenAI upheavals in 2024
Generative AI models have been a hot topic of discussion in 2023, but their real-world impact on each of the major IT disciplines is just beginning. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Dec 2023
When FinOps met devx at Capital One
Capital One has kept cloud costs flat as its infrastructure grows, and now looks to share lessons learned -- including the subtle art of devx -- through the FinOps Foundation. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Dec 2023
Scrum master
A Scrum master is a facilitator for an Agile development team. They are responsible for managing the exchange of information between team members. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2023
What's the value in an Agile release train?
When multiple development teams work on code, integration and deployment become more complicated. ART could be a useful tool to smooth out these wrinkles. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2023
An Agile development strategy needs a proper foundation
It's a mistake to think of Agile development as merely project management. Let's look at the basic elements and types of tools needed to make Agile work. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Nov 2023
Veteran platform engineers share lessons learned, wish lists
Platform engineering is the new DevOps, but few companies have reached maturity; reps from early adopter orgs shared tips, caveats and a call to action at KubeCon. Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2023
Behind the scenes, Spotify's Backstage a work in progress
Spotify-created Backstage, now a CNCF project, is popular as enterprises add developer portals to internal platforms, but setup is hard, and getting dev buy-in can be even harder. Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2023
IT pros size up Microsoft Radius app developer platform
As the platform engineering era dawns, enterprises seek better ways to tie apps to distributed infrastructure across clouds. But can Azure's owner build multi-cloud consensus? Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2023
LaunchDarkly feature management adds built-in workflows
Large enterprises use feature management to cope with traffic spikes and speed up releases but must plan carefully to avoid technical debt. LaunchDarkly updates could help. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2023
Rancher founders' new venture recasts Kubernetes management
While Rancher focused on simplifying Kubernetes management, Acorn Labs looks to remove it entirely from developer workflows by embedding it within a new kind of application image. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2023
Prisma Cloud analytics, automation boost DevSecOps speed
Prisma Cloud's Darwin update looks to address DevSecOps communication and velocity lags with centralized analytics and by ditching tickets for automated pull requests. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2023
Is a continuous planning process in DevOps worth it?
Is a continuous planning strategy right for your organization's DevOps efforts? Know the practical benefits and challenges, as well as how to improve development efficiencies. Continue Reading
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News
12 Oct 2023
Pulumi, HashiCorp competition expands to developer platforms
Developer platform choices for enterprise IT continue to proliferate as infrastructure-as-code rivals rush to create tools targeting platform engineers. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2023
Google's DORA DevOps report warns against metrics misuse
This year's DORA DevOps report echoes the experiences of one organization that has applied them in practice: DORA metrics can be powerful but aren't always an exact science. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Oct 2023
What does a SAFe Scrum master do differently?
What's the difference between a Scrum master and SAFe Scrum master/team coach? Not much, but you should understand their slightly distinct approaches in day-to-day practice. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2023
Docker enters GenAI development fray with new tools
Docker jumps aboard the generative AI bandwagon with a pre-built set of tools to jump-start app development using LLMs and a Docker AI productivity tool. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Oct 2023
Scrum master interview questions and answers
Want to ace the Scrum master interview? These tough Scrum master questions and answers will help you prepare. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2023
The benefits of WIP limits in Kanban
Agile developers complete projects faster when they limit WIP. Learn how less work in progress means more work completed and how to set up a Kanban board with WIP limitations. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2023
New Git repository faces corporate open source doubts
CI/CD pipeline vendor Harness faces two challenges as it launches Gitness: a market dominated by GitHub and GitLab as well as concerns about vendor-led open source projects. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2023
Linux Foundation ups ante on HashiCorp, hosts Terraform fork
All eyes are on HashiCorp's response now that a community-driven fork of its Terraform infrastructure as code tool has been officially relaunched as a Linux Foundation project. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2023
CloudBees scales its Jenkins CI, previews SaaS platform
About a year after acquiring ReleaseIQ, CloudBees prepares the fruits of its integration for launch and adds long-awaited scale-out to its commercial version of Jenkins. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Sep 2023
Generative AI emerges for DevSecOps, with some qualms
New and developing tools use natural language processing to assist DevSecOps workflows, but concerns linger among developers about security risks as well. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2023
Meet MLSecOps: Industry calls for new measures to secure AI
Open source security, already in the software supply chain spotlight, must expand to include AI models, according to the OpenSSF and DevSecOps vendor JFrog. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Sep 2023
Roles and responsibilities in an Agile center of excellence
A successful Agile transformation takes time and perseverance. Here's how an Agile center of excellence helps to adopt changes and adjust work processes. Continue Reading
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News
30 Aug 2023
Google AI plans could spur low-code/no-code faceoff with AWS
Google's generative AI products play catch-up with Copilot and others, but the upcoming addition of Duet AI to AppSheet might fill a market gap as AWS scraps Honeycode. Continue Reading
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News
22 Aug 2023
VMware Tanzu portfolio reshuffled ahead of Broadcom close
VMware Tanzu incorporates Aria AIOps and FinOps products as a $69 billion acquisition by Broadcom looms, putting the product line's future in question. Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2023
IT pros mull observability tools, devx and generative AI
Observability as a common language for both developers and operations teams still has plenty of room for improvement in the era of platform engineering, according to experts. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jul 2023
How to make use of specification-based test techniques
Specification-based techniques can play a role in efficient test coverage. Choosing the right techniques can ensure thorough coverage, while eliminating redundancy. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2023
Chainguard automates SBOMs, but has Images-based agenda
Container images, that is. Chainguard Enforce now automates SBOMs, but execs and an early customer say they aren't the ultimate answer to software supply chain security. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2023
Scrum vs. SAFe: How to choose between top Agile frameworks
Which Agile framework is the best fit for your organization: Scrum vs. SAFe? Follow these guidelines and advice to determine which best fits your needs -- and it might be both. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2023
Banks dump Terraform for Crossplane infrastructure as code
Two EU banks favor Crossplane's reconciliation approach over Terraform's dependency graph, saying the former hastens deployments -- with a few migration caveats. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2023
HashiCorp Vault to expand in DevSecOps with BluBracket buy
HashiCorp expands Vault's focus to include DevSecOps with the acquisition of a secrets scanning startup, setting the stage for a potential showdown with Microsoft and GitHub. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2023
Accelerate software delivery by practicing Lean DevOps
The Lean methodology focuses on increasing efficiency and reducing waste -- practices that can also streamline DevOps projects. Review the benefits of combining the two approaches. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jun 2023
daily stand-up meeting
A daily stand-up meeting is a short organizational meeting that is held each day. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
Using Fibery to build The Ultimate Workspace for solopreneurs
The no-code digital workspace vendor for SMBs brings total customization to online knowledge hubs and generative AI tools to build online workspaces and create content quickly. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2023
Retail companies gain DORA metrics ROI from specialist tools
DORA metrics and other measures of engineering efficiency are popping up in add-ons to existing DevOps tools. But third-party vendors added more value for Puma and Sensormatic. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
More Scrum master certification exam questions
To pass the Professional Scrum master exam, you need to know the tricks. These Scrum master exam questions will show you how to answer even the toughest questions on the test. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum master certification exam questions and answers
Are you ready for the Scrum master certification exam? Test yourself on these 10 tough Scrum master exam questions and answers. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
More Scrum product owner certification exam questions
Want to get Scrum product owner-certified? These tough practice exam questions test your ability to apply the Scrum framework in the capacity of a Professional Scrum Product Owner. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum product owner certification exam questions and answers
Here are 10 tough sample Scrum product owner exam questions and answers to help gauge your readiness for the certification test. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jun 2023
App development trends and their security implications
Enterprise Strategy Group analysts look at how organizations are modernizing software development processes and how security teams can support the growth and scale. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Jun 2023
iterative development
Iterative development is a way of breaking down the software development lifecycle (SDLC) of a large application into smaller chunks. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jun 2023
OKRs vs. SMART goals in software development
OKRs and SMART are two goal-setting approaches. Knowing their differences and how to implement each is essential to steer your business objectives in a clear direction. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Atlassian cloud preps threat tool as security boss departs
Atlassian Beacon shores up cloud security as it adds transparency around security issues, but the chief trust officer role at the company is also changing hands. Continue Reading
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Definition
02 Jun 2023
automated testing
Automated testing is a software testing technique that automates the process of validating the functionality of software and ensures it meets requirements before being released into production. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2023
5 Scrum servant leader examples
The term 'servant leader' was removed from the 2020 Scrum Guide, but that doesn't mean it's not important. Here are five examples of a Scrum master as a servant leader. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2023
Scrum vs. Waterfall: What's the difference?
Most organizations choose between Waterfall and Agile methodologies, which often means comparing Scrum vs. Waterfall. Here are the differences and some guidance on how to choose. Continue Reading
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News
28 Apr 2023
Amid supply chain attacks, emerging vendor rethinks SBOM
Early adopters such as Swisscom have used startup Codenotary’s notarization system to establish and track the provenance of software artifacts in pipelines and production. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Apr 2023
SQL injection (SQLi)
A SQL injection (SQLi) is a technique that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to a web application database by adding a string of malicious code to a database query. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2023
Slack releases updated API platform for developers
The instant messaging collaboration vendor released its updated API platform for developers to create functions that interact with APIs. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Atlassian demos ChatGPT tie-ins for Confluence, Jira Cloud
Atlassian teased early previews of cloud platform AI that supports natural language queries and automated links between Jira, Confluence and third-party products. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Apr 2023
open core model (open core software)
The open core model is an approach to software development that combines attributes of both the open source and closed source models. Continue Reading
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Answer
13 Apr 2023
How to write a business requirements document in Agile
An Agile software team shouldn't rely on rigid processes or a control board to get the job done, but it still needs to make business requirements a central focus. Enter the BRD. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Apr 2023
Agile Manifesto
The Agile Manifesto is a document that identifies four key values and 12 principles that its authors believe software developers should use to guide their work. Continue Reading
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News
05 Apr 2023
Securing remote access grows crucial for DevSecOps
Between remote work and hybrid cloud lies a menacing security gap that experts warn more and more businesses will fall into without a cohesive approach. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Apr 2023
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management framework based on the belief that an organization can build long-term success by having all its members -- from low-level workers to its highest-ranking executives -- focus on improving quality and, thus, delivering customer satisfaction. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Mar 2023
sequence diagram
A sequence diagram is one of the multiple types of system interaction diagrams used within Unified Modeling Language (UML) to visually represent interactions between the objects that live within a system. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2023
Ways to get by when Waterfall development reigns
Against all odds, the Waterfall methodology maintains a tight grip over countless numbers of software development teams. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make the most of it. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Mar 2023
mob programming
Mob programming is a collaborative approach to software development in which a group of developers work together in real time on one task. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Mar 2023
collaboration diagram
A collaboration diagram, also known as a communication diagram, is an illustration of the relationships and interactions among software objects in the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Mar 2023
MoSCoW method
The MoSCoW method is a four-step approach to prioritizing which project requirements provide the best return on investment (ROI). Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Mar 2023
object-relational mapping (ORM)
Object-relational mapping (ORM) is a way to align programming code with database structures. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Mar 2023
Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps -- rebranded from Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) in 2018 -- is a software-as-a service (SaaS) platform from Microsoft designed to provide a comprehensive toolchain for developing and deploying software projects. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Mar 2023
smoke testing
Smoke testing, also called build verification testing or confidence testing, is a software testing method that is used to determine if a new software build is ready for the next testing phase. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Feb 2023
Toyota Way
The Toyota Way is a comprehensive expression of the company's management philosophy, which is based on the two foundational pillars of Continuous Improvement, also known as kaizen, and Respect for People. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Jan 2023
fail fast
Fail fast is a philosophy that values extensive testing and incremental development to determine whether an idea has value. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jan 2023
Agile project management (APM)
Agile project management (APM) is an iterative approach to planning and guiding project processes. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2023
Lens Kubernetes developer portal expands with Shipa buy
The early stage startup, co-founded by Juniper and CloudBees vets, adds a "stupid easy" option for application auto-discovery and ongoing management, according to Mirantis. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2023
Mob programming benefits for Agile development teams
Mob programming brings the whole team together for simultaneous code creation and review. If they specify roles and engage, Agile teams can benefit from mobbing practices. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Dec 2022
Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD)
Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) is a scalable Agile software delivery framework. It takes a people-first, learning-oriented approach to software development and delivery. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2022
Salesforce DevOps Center ships to rein in low-code apps
Salesforce DevOps Center rolled out with features meant to bring low-code and pro-code custom apps on its CRM platform up to date with current software development practices. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Nov 2022
pipeline as code
Pipeline as code is an approach to a continuous integration (CI) pipeline where the pipeline is expressed entirely in computer code. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Nov 2022
use case
A use case is a methodology used in system analysis to identify, clarify and organize system requirements. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Nov 2022
DevSecOps
DevSecOps (development plus security plus operations) is an approach that combines application development, security, operations and infrastructure as code (IaC) in an automated continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Nov 2022
negative float (negative slack)
Negative float, also known as negative slack, is a common concept in project management that refers to the amount of time that must be saved to complete a project on time. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Nov 2022
static testing
Static testing is a software testing method that examines a program -- along with any associated documents -- but does not require the program to be executed. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
Atlassian Open DevOps tools stitch together more workflows
As all-in-one DevOps tools vendors grow, Atlassian argues users want choice; customers say third-party tools integration is a timesaver, but the company faces headwinds. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2022
user story
A user story is a tool in Agile software development used to capture a description of a software feature from a user's perspective. The user story describes the type of user, what they want and why. A user story helps to create a simplified description of a requirement. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Climate LLC taps feature flags for mobile app development
Feature flags facilitated fast rollbacks and trunk-based mobile development for a digital farming software maker amid volatility due to business growth and climate change. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2022
Harness CTO: Where shift left goes wrong
In this Q&A, Harness' field CTO Nick Durkin shares his thoughts on the impossible burden that shift left places on developers and what can be done to lessen the load. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Sep 2022
fist to five (fist of five)
Fist to five, or fist of five, is a consensus-building technique used by Agile software development teams to poll team members and come to an agreement. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2022
Make quality a priority in your software engineering culture
A software team needs quality to ensure a strong product. Here are some ways to implement quality in all facets of development and build it into every software release. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Aug 2022
agnostic
Agnostic, in an information technology (IT) context, refers to something that is generalized so that it is interoperable among various systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2022
How you can incorporate lean coffee for Agile, QA meetings
Don't let formal meeting agendas turn away attendees. The lean coffee format encourages participation and idea sharing on topics to drive conversation in numerous settings. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Aug 2022
The 5 prevailing Agile pitfalls that prevent true adoption
To successfully implement Agile and maintain its momentum, teams must often overcome a predictable series of both technical and cultural adoption challenges. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Aug 2022
Why security chaos engineering works, and how to do it right
While 'chaos' doesn't sound like something software security managers would want, chaos engineering has an enticing amount of value when it comes to identifying potential threats. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Aug 2022
software testing
Software testing is the process of assessing the functionality of a software program. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jul 2022
root cause analysis
Root cause analysis (RCA) is a method for understanding the underlying cause of an observed or experienced incident. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2022
Emphasize culture in your Agile implementation approach
Team structure and culture should be a primary focus during any shift to Agile principles and methodologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jul 2022
Explore common types of Agile teams
Agile methodologies can take many forms, and one Agile team can look and perform very differently from the next. Communication, however, is always key. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Jun 2022
SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method)
SSADM (Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method) is a widely used computer application development method in the United Kingdom, where its use is often specified as a requirement for government computing projects. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2022
DataRobot AI hits Google Cloud Marketplace, adds GitHub
The AI vendor puts its products on Google Cloud Marketplace and integrates with GitHub and other major online platforms including Sumo Logic, Splunk, Datadog and Zendesk. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Jun 2022
implementation
Implementation is the execution or practice of a plan, a method or any design, idea, model, specification, standard or policy for doing something. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2022
How to scale Scrum with Scrum of Scrums meetings
Enterprise-scale software development can be difficult to coordinate across multiple teams. For Agile-adhering IT organizations, Scrum of Scrums is one way to stay organized. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 May 2022
Fibonacci sequence
The Fibonacci sequence is a set of integers (the Fibonacci numbers) that starts with a zero, followed by a one, then by another one, and then by a series of steadily increasing numbers. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 May 2022
LDAP injection
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) injection is a type of security exploit that is used to compromise the authentication process used by some websites. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2022
Choose a software testing model by weighing these 5 factors
Software development teams have options for their preferred software testing methodology. Consider these five key metrics before choosing a testing model for your team. Continue Reading