Context
What's yours?
We know how important context is when it comes to using AI tools.
Why is it so rarely, then, that we give ourselves the same benefit?
I was reflecting recently on the Extreme Programming principles, and how they may or may not still apply.
I’ve already written about them before in relation to AI, but I keep revisiting them as the tools and our knowledge and experience of using them evolves.
Kent Beck originally published Extreme Programming over 25 years ago.
It’s difficult to really imagine just how different the programming environment looked back then.
I got my current favourite AI model to come up with this to highlight the vibe contrast:
Then
Think: physical servers, CVS for version control, month to year long waterfall projects, dedicated ‘testing’ machines.
Now
One click deployments, consistent artefacts, Blue / Green rollouts, feature flags and A/B testing; a world of difference.
It’s important to understand the context in which XP was developed and written, to also understand what they were written in response to; what they were trying to change.
The same can be said of the Agile Manifesto, DORA, the DevOps movement and more.
And yet, despite the changes and undeniable progress, XP like many of these other concepts still remain relevant today.
Why?
Because their core focus is on humans: human collaboration, human ownership, human connection.
That hasn’t changed.
AI is transforming the industry, and it is transforming the world.
Like all technologies we have developed, it will transform us too.
Yet much will remain.
When I think about what won’t be different in 5 years time?
Businesses will want software created economically to support them in achieving their goals.
Smart, talented people will want to be supported and trusted to build things, grow and exceed expectations.
People will want to work with other people in this process.
That’s why I’m focusing my service on these key human-centric principles.
They are the constants, the underlying context, in a world of accelerating change.