Agile Tampa

Cory Foy has graciously blogged our first meeting; with pictures and everything! Check it out. http://www.cornetdesign.com.

Greetings!

Our first Agile Tampa User Group meeting will be on Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30pm. Come a little earlier for pizza! Our speaker will be from the local Tampa company, agilethought. Visit their web site at http://www.agilethought.com. Our first meeting topic will be “Getting Started with Agile Development”. We will hear and discuss topics such as principals, practices, and flavors of Agile development, selling Agile development to your team, and implementing Agile in your group. This will be followed with a Q and A session.

So, if you’re interested attending, please send me an e-mail at agiletampa@live.com and let me know so I can make sure there is enough pizza!

We will be meeting at the Microsoft office in Rocky Point:

Microsoft GulfStates Offices: Tampa, FL Office

3000 Bayport Plaza,

Suite 480, Tampa - Next to the Hyatt

Tampa, FL 33607

Phone Number: (813) 281-3900

Directions: From the Airport: From the airport, take the Clearwater exit and follow the signs to 60 West. You will go underneath an overpass; Make a left on the first light immediately following is the entrance to the Bayport Plaza Building and the Hyatt Westshore. Microsoft is located on the building next to the Hyatt Regency in the 4th floor, Suite 480.

Thanks,

Michael Russo

I was trying to think of what could symbolize “Agile”. Honestly, when I think of something agile, I think of those gazelles bounding across the African plains. Their best defense against their predators is their speed and agility.

So what is the “enemy” of software development? As developers, what are our “predators” that threaten to eat us alive and keep us from producing the best code, meeting our deadlines, and successfully reaching our goals?

●       Looming and perhaps unreasonable deadlines?

●       Budget limitations that may keep us from using the best available tools?

●       “Scope Creep”?

Perhaps Agile development practices could help you avoid those pitfalls.

So, I guess the reason why I decided to use the deer icon I did was because it could be looked at from two angles.

1)      A deer is agile, like those gazelles bounding across the African plains, avoiding their predators

2)      The icon I used is the “Caution, be aware of deer in the area” traffic sign, which requires you, the driver, to be agile in avoiding a hazardous obstacle.

So whether you consider yourself the deer being agile or the driver being agile, I think the icon fits with what we are trying to accomplish as developers and project managers; which is to avoid potential obstacles or to better equip ourselves in dealing with obstacles we encounter that keep us from delivering the best possible products to our clients.

Hey!

What’s all this Agile stuff I keep hearing about? How can I find out more information about it from people who actually use it on a daily basis? Will implementing Agile methodologies help or hurt my development team? Are you asking these questions?

Perhaps you’ve successfully implemented Agile practices at your workplace, are a part of an Agile team, or use to be. Would you like to talk with other people who use it and compare notes? Hear experts talk about it? Find a coach to help you implement it with your team?

My desire to learn more about Agile development and to talk with people who successfully use it lead me to search for an Agile user group in the Tampa area. But, alas, I couldn’t find one.

If you’re interested in attending meetings of such a group or would enjoy sharing your views and experiences with Agile practices; perhaps even speaking at such a meeting, please send me an e-mail at AgileTampa@live.com and let me know about it.

My hope is to have meetings consisting of developers, architects, and project managers to discuss all things Agile. It should be a technology neutral group so all can benefit. Maybe even make Tampa, more Agile!

I look forward to hearing your feedback!

Thanks,

            Michael Russo