Agile! The Good, the Hype and the Ugly

Speaker:  Bertrand Meyer – Zurich, Switzerland
Topic(s):  Human Computer Interaction , Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural language processing , Software Engineering and Programming , Computational Theory, Algorithms and Mathematics , Society and the Computing Profession , Applied Computing

Abstract

This lecture provides a critical, de-hyped evaluation of Agile methodologies. It separates the "brilliant" contributions of Agile—such as continuous integration, refactoring, and the focus on the "definition of done"—from the "ugly" elements, including the rejection of upfront requirements, the deprecation of documentation, and the dismissal of formal architecture. Drawing from the Springer reference text of the same name, the talk uses a systematic analysis to identify which Agile practices are scientifically sound and which are merely anecdotal. It advocates for a balanced approach that retains the responsiveness of Agile while upholding the rigorous standards of software engineering and Design by Contract.

About this Lecture

Number of Slides:  30
Duration:  minutes
Languages Available:  English, French, German, Italian, Russian
Last Updated:  27/02/2026

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