Object Mentor Blog: Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto

Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto

Uncle Bob — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:01:00 -0500

“Quintessence” was the name of the keynote I gave at the banquet of Agile 2008. Though the talk covered a lot of ground, the upshot was that we need an addition to the agile manifesto…

As you know the Agile Manifesto is composed of four balanced value statements. Here they are:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan

In my talk I proposed the following addition

Craftsmanship over Crap.

From this you can probably tell that my talk was primarily about behaving professionally, and writing clean code. This should not be a big surprise since I just finished writing a book entitled Clean Code .

The problem with my proposal is that it is not a balanced value statement. In the other four statements we value the second item. We just value the first item more. But in my proposed addition, we simply don’t value crap at all.

So I hereby change my original proposal, which was made for dramatic effect, to:

Craftsmanship over Execution

Most software development teams execute, but they don’t take care. We value execution, but we value craftsmanship more.

Comments? Anyone have a better word?

(BTW, I used a wonderful web tool named Visual Thesaurus to find the word “execute”. Check it out!)

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by ubislate 7

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:01:22 -0600

i like the way your posts are written in

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by webmaster forum

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:31 -0600

the articles in your website are really cool

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by website value calculator

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:59:02 -0600

your website is the best

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by http://websitevaluecalculator.in

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:57:42 -0600

your website is just superb!!!!

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by blocked or down

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:51:03 -0600

Essay writing often requires extensive reading and research that can take allot of time. Our professional essay writing service knows that time is something that most students do not have.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Butiik

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:45:03 -0600

This is a interesting line of content, very good article. Thanks for sharing this post, nice way of bring this subject to discussion. Keep up the excellent work ! Peakatted

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by free business listings

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:01:12 -0600

Thanks for sharing such a vital information, actually I am looking

for information regarding travel services. Now this blog post

written by you definitely help me a lot. business directory

This comment has been flagged for moderator approval.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by sanovnik

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:14:18 -0600

This was a really outstanding post. In theory I’d like to compose like this too - taking time and real effort to make a solid article…

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by alex

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:40:03 -0600

esources like the one you mentioned here will be very useful to me ! I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by http://directboattransport.com/boat-transport/ saamej@gmail.com

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:55:23 -0600

Attractive blog,but you could have made this blog more cool if you could configure the language changer pluigin but all the same you have done a good job of Boat Transport

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Celebs Hairtsyles

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:49:12 -0600

Great post and i like it. Keep on writing pal…:)

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by http://www.directboattransport.com/Boat-shipping

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:14:52 -0600

BOAT Transport for LESS! Complete, affordable International, domestic Yacht Transport solutions. Fast Quote! Vessel, Boat shipping. Boat transportation,Shipper,carrier,mover, transporting, usa , yacht transport, boat transport, australia, new zealand Boat Shipping.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by christian louboutin

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:37:43 -0600

It is a good post , I like it and please keep writing .

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by salt lamp

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:21:20 -0600

Good Post and have informational knowledge. I really impresses! I visited this page and found very informative knowledge. This post is showing a good approach on this Topic. I really impressed !

salt lamp

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by yacht transport

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:41:13 -0600

It isa good and nice info . especially because I was looking for thoughts on this matter last Monday.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by mulberry bag sale

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:17:58 -0600

Love is still adhering to the quality of bag net advantage, price advantage, advantage and perfect after-sale style and fashion bag net with nearly 200 species and the

number of money bags, the product line involves fashion, business, leisure

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Sheetmetal

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:31:23 -0600

Good insight into a well written article . Good looking site.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Industrial Workbenches

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:42:21 -0600

Craftsmanship takes longer, but lasts longer too…Great piece, more should read this article.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by alexmick

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:56:46 -0600

Very informative article. For my web site to generate relevant traffic which key word should i choose, means how to judge any key words effectiveness can you suggest me? my web site is about consultancy for business. thanks ugg ascot china tea

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Free Business Listings

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:45:23 -0600

I have recently been searching for information about this topic forWhen you is the best I have found so far. However, the bottom line? You are positive about the source?

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by KINH DOANH TREN INTERNET

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:43:43 -0600

Very interesting discussion glad that I came across such informative post. Keep up the good work friend. Glad to be part of your net community.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Acheter Levitra generique en ligne

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:10:52 -0600

A very interesting article, interesting ideas and a lot of good questions posed. Thanks for your insight for the great written piece.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by Comprar generico kamagra

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:27:59 -0600

I just want to say your article is striking. Well with your permission allow me to grab feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by controlar eyaculacion

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:26:44 -0600

Thanks for posting this article. I am definitely tired of struggling to find relevant and intelligent commentary on this subject. Everyone nowadays seem to go to extremes to either drive home their viewpoint or suggest that everybody else in the globe is wrong. Thanks for your concise and relevant insight.

"Quintessence: The fifth element for the Agile Manifesto" by agrandir naturel du penis

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:25:07 -0600

The particulars and exact recommendation are insurance specifically what I was wanting. I’ve bookmarked and will definitely be returning. Thanks for the information in this blog.