Orit Hazzan, Technion


Social and Cognitive analysis of Extreme Programming  


Extreme Programming (XP) is accepted as the most commonly used agile 
software development method. It is based on four values expressed by 
twelve practices, which support and complement each other. The XP values 
and practices were selected based on the accumulative insight derived 
from extensive experience in the software industry, and the recognition 
that quality software systems should, perhaps, be developed by adhering 
to very specific and detailed practices. In other words, rather than 
stating principles and development phases that can be interpreted and 
implemented differently by different software teams, XP practices outline 
a very detailed procedure for the actual development of software systems. 

In the talk I analyze XP from social and cognitive perspectives 
illustrating how it may support learning and social process. 
I suggest that the attraction of XP over other software development 
methods may be partially explained based on this analysis.