How can you implement agile software development without comprehensive documentation?

1 What is documentation in agile?

Documentation in agile is not the same as documentation in traditional or waterfall methods. It is not a fixed and detailed set of specifications, requirements, designs, and plans that are produced before the development starts and rarely updated afterwards. Instead, documentation in agile is a dynamic and evolving artifact that supports the development process and reflects the current state of the product. It is not a goal in itself, but a means to an end.

2 Why is documentation important in agile?

Documentation is important in agile for several reasons. First, it helps you share information and knowledge with your team members, stakeholders, and customers. It can help you align your vision, goals, and expectations, as well as clarify your assumptions, decisions, and feedback. Second, it helps you maintain and improve your product quality and performance. It can help you identify and resolve issues, track and measure progress, and document and verify results. Third, it helps you sustain and scale your product development and delivery. It can help you reuse and refactor your code, transfer and train your staff, and comply and audit your standards and regulations.

3 How much documentation do you need in agile?

The amount of documentation you need in agile depends on several factors, such as the complexity, scope, and duration of your project, the size, skill, and location of your team, the nature, needs, and preferences of your stakeholders and customers, and the context, culture, and constraints of your organization and industry. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but a general principle is to produce as much documentation as necessary, but as little as possible. This means that you should focus on the value and purpose of your documentation, rather than the format and quantity. You should also prioritize and update your documentation according to the changing needs and feedback of your project.

4 How can you create documentation in agile?

Creating documentation in agile is distinct from traditional or waterfall methods, as it is an integral and concurrent activity that involves multiple people and roles. To create documentation in agile, take advantage of agile tools and techniques, such as user stories, code comments, diagrams, wikis, feedback and more. These can help document requirements, tasks, progress, code structure, logic, design, architecture and user interface. Additionally, they also enable you to capture your knowledge, insights and learnings as well as communication, collaboration and improvement.

5 How can you optimize documentation in agile?

Creating documentation in agile is not enough; you must also optimize it to ensure that it is relevant, accurate, and useful. To do this, you should review and refine your documentation regularly and frequently, deleting or archiving any obsolete or outdated documents. Additionally, organize and categorize your documentation according to its type, topic, audience, and purpose. Moreover, format and present your documentation in a clear, concise, and consistent way. Finally, test and validate your documentation against your product and feedback for verification and trust.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?