Agile Terminologies for every Software Engineer

Image credits: Pexels.com

In recent days every Software project follows Agile Methodology and release the Software applications in Increments to the End user, which can be every week to every month depends on the complexity of the Software project under development.

Having clear idea about the Terminologies used in the Agile projects would help to use them appropriately as needed. Below are some of the frequently encountered terms, do add more in comments.

1. Epic:
   An epic is like a big task, a major goal in our project. It’s the kind of work that’s too large to tackle all at once, so we break it down into smaller tasks to make it more manageable.
2. User Story:
   A user story is like a short storybook. It’s a concise narrative describing a software feature from an end-user perspective, capturing the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ and ‘why.’
3. Sprint:
   A sprint is like a focused workout session. It’s a time-boxed iteration, typically two weeks, during which the development team works on a set of prioritized user stories.
4. Scrum Master:
   The Scrum Master is like a coach. They facilitate the Scrum process, removing impediments, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the team adheres to Agile principles.
5. Daily Standup:
   The daily standup is like a morning huddle. It’s a brief, daily meeting where team members share updates on their progress, discuss impediments, and align on the day’s tasks.
6. Definition of Ready (DoR):
   The Definition of Ready is like a checklist for task readiness. It outlines the criteria a task must meet before it can be considered for inclusion in a sprint.
7. Definition of Done (DoD):
   The Definition of Done is like a checklist for completeness. It defines the criteria that a user story must meet to be considered complete, ensuring a shared understanding of ‘done.’
8. Burn-down Chart:
   A burn-down chart is like a progress map. It visually represents the work completed over time, helping the team track progress toward completing the planned tasks.
9. Product Owner:
   The Product Owner is like a storyteller. They represent the voice of the customer, prioritize the product backlog, and make decisions on feature requirements.
10. Velocity:
    Velocity is like a team’s speedometer. It measures the amount of work a team can complete in a sprint, providing insights into their capacity and aiding in future planning.
11. Retrospective:
    A retrospective is like a team debrief. It’s a dedicated meeting at the end of a sprint where the team reflects on what went well, what could be improved, and plans for adjustments.
12. Kanban:
    Kanban is like a visual task board. It’s a framework for visualizing work, limiting work in progress, and maximizing efficiency in the flow of work items.
13. Increment:
    An increment is like a building block. It’s the sum of completed user stories and improvements at the end of a sprint, representing a tangible progress in the project.
14. Product Backlog:
    The product backlog is like a to-do list for the project. It’s an evolving, prioritized list of features, enhancements, and fixes that the team intends to work on.
15. Backlog Grooming:
    Backlog grooming is like preparing for a journey. It’s the process of refining and organizing the product backlog, ensuring that upcoming user stories are well-defined and prioritized.
16. Backlog Refinement:
    Backlog refinement is like project pruning. It involves reviewing and refining the product backlog, ensuring tasks are well-defined and ready for sprint planning.
17. Acceptance Criteria:
    Acceptance criteria are like our task guidelines. They define the conditions a task must meet to be considered complete, ensuring a shared understanding of expectations.
18. Story Points:
    Story points are like our project units. They represent the effort required to complete a task, providing a relative measure for estimating and comparing tasks.
19. Impediment:
    An impediment is like our project roadblock. It’s any obstacle that hinders the team’s progress, and addressing impediments is crucial for maintaining project momentum.
20. Scrum Team:
    A Scrum Team is like a well-tuned orchestra. Comprising cross-functional members, including developers, a Scrum Master, and a Product Owner, it harmoniously collaborates to deliver valuable increments in each sprint.

Do you follow Agile methodology in your project ?

Swaroop Nadella
Test Automation Engineer, Tech Educator

Subscribe here, to Get an email whenever I publish article on Medium.

Swaroop Nadella Academy Store — Quizzes and Courses