Agile Software development interview questions

Agile software development is a methodology for developing software in an iterative and incremental way. It emphasises collaboration, flexibility, and rapid response to change. Agile methods aim to deliver high-quality software that meets the customer’s needs quickly and efficiently.

Agile development is based on the Agile Manifesto, a set of guiding values and principles for software development. The manifesto emphasises four core values:

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

Agile development involves breaking the software development process down into small, manageable pieces called sprints. Each sprint typically lasts two to four weeks and involves a set of specific goals and tasks. During each sprint, the team works together to deliver a working increment of the software.

One of the key practices of agile development is continuous integration and testing. This involves integrating code changes into the main codebase frequently, and running automated tests to ensure that the code still works as expected. This helps catch errors early and ensures that the code remains stable and reliable throughout the development process.

Another important aspect of agile development is regular communication and collaboration between team members. Agile teams typically hold daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress, identify issues, and coordinate work. They also hold regular review and retrospective meetings to evaluate their progress and identify areas for improvement.

Agile development has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its flexibility and focus on customer value. It is used in a wide range of industries and contexts, from software development to project management and beyond.

What are the benefits of Agile Software development?

Agile software development offers a range of benefits, including:

1. Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile development methodologies are designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing teams to respond quickly to changing requirements and priorities. This means that the development process can be adjusted as needed to ensure that the software meets the customer’s needs and is delivered on time.
2. Customer Satisfaction: Agile development is focused on delivering working software that meets the customer’s needs. This means that the customer is involved throughout the development process, providing feedback and direction. As a result, the final product is more likely to meet the customer’s expectations and result in higher satisfaction.
3. Faster Time-to-Market: Agile development methodologies typically involve short development cycles, or sprints, that result in a working increment of the software. This allows the team to release software faster, delivering value to the customer sooner and improving the overall time-to-market.
4. Continuous Improvement: Agile development methodologies are designed to be iterative and involve regular reviews and retrospectives. This allows the team to identify areas for improvement and make changes to the process or the software as needed. This leads to a continuous improvement in the software’s quality and the development process.
5. Improved Collaboration: Agile development emphasises collaboration and communication between team members. This means that team members are more likely to work together effectively and share knowledge and expertise. As a result, the team can make better decisions and work more efficiently.
6. Reduced Risk: Agile development methodologies involve frequent testing and integration, which reduces the risk of errors and ensures that the software remains stable and reliable throughout the development process.

Agile software development offers a more efficient, effective, and customer-focused approach to software development. It allows teams to work together more effectively and deliver high-quality software that meets the customer’s needs.

What is a Sprint?

In Agile software development, a sprint is a timeboxed period of typically one to four weeks, during which a team works to deliver a working increment of the software. Each sprint is a short development cycle that is designed to produce a potentially releasable increment of the software.

During a sprint, the team works to complete a set of specific goals and tasks that have been defined at the start of the sprint. These goals and tasks are based on the requirements and priorities that have been identified by the customer or product owner. The team typically holds daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress, identify issues, and coordinate work.

At the end of the sprint, the team holds a sprint review meeting to demonstrate the working increment of the software and receive feedback from the customer or product owner. The team also holds a sprint retrospective meeting to evaluate their performance during the sprint and identify areas for improvement.

The sprint is a key element of Agile development because it allows the team to deliver working software in a short period of time, while also providing opportunities for feedback, review, and improvement. The short development cycle of the sprint allows the team to respond quickly to changing requirements and priorities, ensuring that the software meets the customer’s needs and is delivered on time. By breaking the development process down into sprints, Agile development helps teams to work more efficiently, collaboratively, and effectively.

What is a story board?

In Agile software development, a storyboard is a visual tool used to represent a sequence of user stories or tasks that make up a larger project or feature. It is a type of collaborative planning tool that allows the team to see the big picture and plan the work that needs to be done.

A storyboard typically consists of a series of cards or sticky notes arranged on a board or wall, with each card representing a specific task or user story. The cards are arranged in the order in which they need to be completed, forming a visual representation of the development process. Each card may include information such as the user story or task description, acceptance criteria, and estimated effort.

The storyboard is used by the team to plan, track, and communicate progress during the development process. It allows team members to see how their work fits into the larger project, and helps to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals. The storyboard also provides a way to visualise the workflow, identify bottlenecks, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the project stays on track.

A storyboard is a useful tool for Agile development teams because it helps to facilitate collaboration, communication, and transparency. It provides a way for team members to visualise their work, plan their tasks, and track their progress, which helps to ensure that the project is delivered on time and meets the customer’s requirements.

What is an epic?

In Agile software development, an epic is a large body of work that is too big to be completed in a single iteration or sprint. It is a high-level user story that represents a large and complex feature or project.

Epics are typically broken down into smaller, more manageable user stories or tasks, which can be completed within a single sprint. The user stories are then prioritised and worked on in order of importance, with the goal of completing the epic over a series of sprints.

Epics are used by the development team to plan and organise their work, and by the product owner to communicate the overall vision and goals of the project to stakeholders. They provide a way to break down complex features into smaller, more manageable pieces, making it easier to plan, track, and deliver the work.

Epics are also useful for managing scope and ensuring that the project stays on track. By breaking down a large feature or project into smaller, more manageable pieces, the team can focus on delivering value to the customer in each sprint, while still working towards the larger goal.

What is the Agile manifesto?

The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values and principles for Agile software development, created in 2001 by a group of software developers who wanted to find a more effective and efficient way to develop software. The manifesto is based on the belief that the traditional, plan-driven approach to software development is often slow, inefficient, and ineffective, and that a more flexible and collaborative approach is needed.

The Agile Manifesto consists of four values:

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

These values emphasise the importance of people and communication, working software, customer involvement, and flexibility and adaptability in software development.

In addition to these values, the Agile Manifesto also includes 12 principles that expand on these values and provide guidance for Agile development teams. These principles include focusing on delivering working software frequently, embracing change, promoting collaboration and teamwork, and ensuring that the team has the resources and support it needs to be successful.

The Agile Manifesto has had a significant impact on software development, and has been embraced by many organisations around the world as a more effective and efficient way to develop software. By focusing on collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness, Agile development teams are able to deliver high-quality software that meets the needs of the customer more quickly and efficiently than traditional development methods.

How agile testing (development) methodology differs from the other testing (development) methodologies?

Agile testing methodology differs from other testing methodologies in several ways:

1. Iterative and incremental: Agile testing is iterative and incremental, with each iteration or sprint focused on delivering working software that meets the customer’s needs. This allows for more frequent feedback and collaboration between the development team and the customer, which helps to ensure that the software meets the customer’s expectations.
2. Emphasis on collaboration: Agile testing emphasises collaboration and communication between the development team, the product owner, and the customer. This helps to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals, and that the customer’s needs are being met.
3. Test-driven development: Agile testing often involves test-driven development (TDD), which means that tests are written before the code is written. This helps to ensure that the code is designed to meet the requirements and that it is easy to test.
4. Continuous integration and delivery: Agile testing emphasises continuous integration and delivery, with frequent builds and releases. This allows for faster feedback and makes it easier to identify and fix issues early in the development process.
5. Flexibility and adaptability: Agile testing is more flexible and adaptable than other testing methodologies. It allows for changes to be made to the requirements and the software as the project progresses, which is important in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business environment.

Overall, Agile testing methodology is focused on delivering high-quality software that meets the customer’s needs, while also emphasising collaboration, communication, and flexibility. It differs from other testing methodologies in its emphasis on iterative development, continuous feedback, and close collaboration between the development team, the product owner, and the customer.

Are you able to name five main characteristics of agile methodology from your point of view?

Five main characteristics of Agile methodology:

1. Iterative and incremental approach: Agile methodology is based on an iterative and incremental approach to software development, where the project is broken down into small, manageable pieces that are completed in short iterations or sprints. Each sprint delivers a working product increment that is reviewed and evaluated by the team and the customer.
2. Emphasis on collaboration and communication: Agile methodology emphasizes collaboration and communication between team members, stakeholders, and the customer. It encourages face-to-face interactions and open communication channels to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.
3. Flexibility and adaptability: Agile methodology is designed to be flexible and adaptable to changing requirements and priorities. It encourages the team to embrace change and respond quickly to feedback and new information.
4. Continuous delivery and improvement: Agile methodology emphasizes continuous delivery and improvement, with a focus on delivering value to the customer as quickly as possible. The team works on delivering working software increments in each sprint, and uses feedback from the customer and team members to continuously improve the product.
5. Empowerment and ownership: Agile methodology encourages team members to take ownership of their work and to be empowered to make decisions and take actions that will benefit the project. It values the input and contributions of all team members, regardless of their role or seniority.

Describe a case where you personally used the agile methodology.

Answer for this question, You need to prepare yourself from your experience but this is very important questions so make sure you have some work example case ready for this.

An example of a case where a team might use the Agile methodology:

Suppose a team is developing a new mobile application for a client. The team decides to use Agile methodology to develop the application. They begin by breaking down the project into smaller, manageable pieces, or user stories. They then prioritise these user stories based on customer needs and create a backlog of tasks to be completed in each sprint.

During each sprint, the team works together to develop a working product increment that meets the customer’s needs. They hold daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress, identify any obstacles or roadblocks, and adjust their plans as needed.

At the end of each sprint, the team holds a sprint review meeting where they present the working product increment to the customer and receive feedback. They also hold a retrospective meeting to reflect on their performance, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments to their process for the next sprint.

Through this iterative and incremental approach, the team is able to deliver a high-quality mobile application that meets the customer’s needs while adapting to changing requirements and priorities along the way. By emphasising collaboration, communication, flexibility, and continuous improvement, the Agile methodology helps the team to work more efficiently and effectively.

In agile practice, what does the daily stand up meetings entail?

In Agile practice, the daily stand-up meetings (also known as daily scrum meetings) are a quick and regular check-in among team members. It is a short and focused meeting that typically lasts no more than 15 minutes and is held every day at the same time and place.

The daily stand-up meeting aims to keep the team on track, aligned and up-to-date with the project status. During the meeting, each team member answers three questions:

1. What did you do yesterday?
2. What are you planning to do today?
3. Are there any impediments or roadblocks in your way?

The purpose of these questions is to keep everyone aware of what everyone else is doing, what progress has been made, and what work needs to be done next. By answering the questions, team members can identify and solve any issues quickly and proactively.

It is called a “stand-up” meeting because the team is expected to stand during the meeting. This is to encourage brevity and focus, as well as to prevent team members from getting too comfortable and dragging out the meeting.

The daily stand-up meeting is an important part of Agile practice because it helps the team to stay on track, communicate regularly, and identify and solve problems quickly. It encourages collaboration and transparency, and ensures that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals.

What’s the benefit of using Agile over conventional Waterfall methodology for developing software?

Agile methodology offers several benefits over the conventional Waterfall methodology for developing software:

1. Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile methodology is more flexible and adaptable than Waterfall methodology. Agile allows changes to be made to the project throughout the development process, which can be crucial in a rapidly changing environment. This allows for continuous improvement and ensures that the final product meets the needs of the customer.
2. Faster Time to Market: Agile methodology focuses on delivering a working product incrementally and iteratively. This means that the product can be released to the market in stages, rather than waiting for the entire product to be completed before release. This approach can lead to faster time to market and competitive advantage.
3. Increased Collaboration and Communication: Agile methodology emphasises collaboration and communication between team members, stakeholders, and customers. This ensures that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals, leading to better teamwork and increased efficiency.
4. Improved Quality: Agile methodology emphasises testing and quality assurance throughout the development process, rather than at the end of the project. This ensures that defects and issues are caught early, leading to improved quality and reduced rework.
5. Customer Satisfaction: Agile methodology places the customer at the center of the development process, with a focus on delivering a product that meets their needs and expectations. This approach ensures that the customer is satisfied with the final product and increases the likelihood of repeat business.

Agile methodology offers a more flexible, collaborative, and customer-focused approach to software development than Waterfall methodology. This can lead to faster time to market, improved quality, increased customer satisfaction, and a competitive advantage.

What are the different meetings in Agile?

In Agile methodology, there are several meetings (also known as ceremonies) that are used to facilitate the development process and ensure effective communication and collaboration within the team. The main meetings in Agile include:

1. Sprint Planning: This meeting is held at the beginning of each sprint and involves the entire team. The purpose of the meeting is to plan the work to be done in the upcoming sprint, set goals, and identify the tasks required to meet those goals.
2. Daily Stand-up: This meeting is held daily and involves the entire team. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a quick update on progress, identify any roadblocks or impediments, and discuss plans for the day.
3. Sprint Review: This meeting is held at the end of each sprint and involves the entire team, as well as stakeholders and customers. The purpose of the meeting is to demonstrate the work completed during the sprint, receive feedback, and identify areas for improvement.
4. Sprint Retrospective: This meeting is held at the end of each sprint and involves the entire team. The purpose of the meeting is to reflect on the sprint that just ended, identify what went well and what didn’t go well, and discuss ways to improve the process.
5. Backlog Refinement: This meeting is held as needed and involves the entire team. The purpose of the meeting is to review and prioritise the items in the product backlog, estimate effort required, and add or remove items as needed.

These meetings are critical to the success of Agile methodology as they ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goals, and that communication is effective throughout the development process.

What is purpose of Release Planning, Sprint Planning meetings, Scrum Meeting, Sprint Review Meeting, Retrospection?

Release Planning

Release planning is a critical aspect of Agile methodology that involves creating a plan for delivering the product to the customer. The goal of release planning is to identify the features and functionality that will be included in each release, estimate the time and effort required to complete each release, and prioritize the work to ensure that the most valuable features are delivered first.

The release planning process typically involves the following steps:

1. Define the Vision: The first step in release planning is to define the product vision and identify the goals and objectives of the project. This provides a framework for the planning process and helps to ensure that everyone is aligned on the overall direction of the project.
2. Identify Features: The next step is to identify the features that will be included in each release. This involves breaking down the high-level goals and objectives into more specific features that can be implemented in a single release.
3. Prioritise Features: Once the features have been identified, they need to be prioritised based on their importance and value to the customer. This ensures that the most valuable features are delivered first and that the product provides the most value to the customer early on.
4. Estimate Effort: Once the features have been prioritised, the team needs to estimate the time and effort required to complete each feature. This allows the team to determine the capacity for each release and ensure that they are not overcommitting.
5. Create a Release Plan: Based on the feature prioritisation and effort estimates, the team can create a release plan that outlines which features will be included in each release and when they will be delivered. This provides a roadmap for the development process and allows the team to track progress towards the overall project goals.

Release planning is an ongoing process that is revisited and updated throughout the development process as new information becomes available. It is a critical aspect of Agile methodology that helps to ensure that the team is delivering value to the customer in an efficient and effective manner.

Sprint Planning

Sprint planning is a key meeting in the Agile methodology that takes place at the beginning of each sprint. The purpose of sprint planning is to set the goals for the sprint and determine what work needs to be done to achieve those goals. The meeting involves the entire team, including the product owner, scrum master, and development team members.

The sprint planning meeting typically consists of the following two parts:

1. Part One: The first part of the sprint planning meeting is focused on setting the sprint goal. The product owner presents the product backlog to the team, and the team reviews and discusses the items in the backlog. The team works with the product owner to identify the items that are most important for the upcoming sprint and define a sprint goal.
2. Part Two: The second part of the sprint planning meeting is focused on identifying the tasks required to achieve the sprint goal. The development team members work together to break down the selected backlog items into smaller, more manageable tasks. The team estimates the effort required for each task and identifies any dependencies between tasks. The end result of this process is a sprint backlog that outlines the tasks that will be completed during the sprint.

Sprint planning is a critical part of the Agile methodology because it helps to ensure that the team is aligned on the goals for the upcoming sprint and that the work is well-defined and manageable. By working together to establish a clear sprint goal and a detailed sprint backlog, the team can work efficiently and effectively to deliver high-quality software that meets the needs of the customer.

Daily Scrum Meeting

The Daily Scrum Meeting, also known as the daily stand-up or daily huddle, is a key meeting in Agile methodology that takes place every day during a sprint. The purpose of the Daily Scrum Meeting is to provide a daily status update to the team, identify any potential roadblocks, and ensure that everyone is aligned on the goals for the sprint.

The Daily Scrum Meeting typically follows a specific format, consisting of the following three questions:

1. What did you do yesterday? Each team member provides a brief update on the work they completed during the previous day.
2. What will you do today? Each team member outlines the tasks they plan to work on during the current day.
3. Are there any roadblocks or impediments? Each team member identifies any potential roadblocks or issues that may prevent them from completing their work.

The Daily Scrum Meeting is intended to be a short and focused meeting, typically lasting no more than 15 minutes. The meeting is conducted standing up to keep it short and focused. The goal is to provide a quick status update to the team and identify any potential issues that may impact the sprint. By meeting daily, the team can ensure that they are making progress towards the sprint goals and that any potential roadblocks are identified and addressed quickly.

Sprint Review

The Sprint Review is a key meeting in the Agile methodology that takes place at the end of each sprint. The purpose of the Sprint Review is to review the work completed during the sprint and demonstrate the working software to the stakeholders.

The Sprint Review typically follows a specific format, consisting of the following steps:

1. Demonstrate the working software: The development team demonstrates the working software to the stakeholders, showcasing the features and functionality that have been developed during the sprint.
2. Review the product backlog: The product owner reviews the product backlog with the stakeholders, providing an update on the progress made during the sprint and any changes that have been made to the backlog.
3. Collect feedback: The stakeholders provide feedback on the working software, highlighting any issues or concerns they may have.
4. Plan for the next sprint: The team and the product owner review the results of the Sprint Review and plan for the next sprint, taking into account any feedback or changes identified during the meeting.

The Sprint Review is an important meeting because it provides an opportunity for the development team to showcase their work and receive feedback from the stakeholders. By reviewing the working software and collecting feedback from the stakeholders, the team can ensure that they are meeting the needs of the customer and delivering high-quality software that meets the requirements of the project. Additionally, by reviewing the product backlog and planning for the next sprint, the team can ensure that they are aligned on the goals and priorities for the upcoming sprint.

Sprint Retrospection

The Sprint Retrospective, also known as the Sprint Retro, is a key meeting in the Agile methodology that takes place at the end of each sprint. The purpose of the Sprint Retrospective is to reflect on the performance of the team during the sprint, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments for the next sprint.

The Sprint Retrospective typically follows a specific format, consisting of the following steps:

1. Review the sprint: The team reviews the work completed during the sprint, including any issues or challenges that arose.
2. Identify strengths and weaknesses: The team identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the sprint, discussing what worked well and what could be improved.
3. Generate ideas for improvement: The team generates ideas for improvement, focusing on specific areas where they can make changes for the next sprint.
4. Prioritise improvements: The team prioritises the improvements, identifying the most important changes to make for the next sprint.
5. Create an action plan: The team creates an action plan for the next sprint, outlining the specific changes they will make and how they will implement them.

The Sprint Retrospective is an important meeting because it allows the team to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement. By generating ideas for improvement and prioritising the changes to make, the team can continuously improve their processes and deliver higher-quality software with each sprint. Additionally, by creating an action plan for the next sprint, the team can ensure that they are focused and aligned on the goals and priorities for the upcoming sprint.

How you do Estimation in Agile? How to estimate using Planning Poker?

Planning Poker is a collaborative estimation technique commonly used in Agile development. The process typically involves the following steps:

1. Gather the development team and the product owner: The team and the product owner gather together to estimate the effort required for each user story or task.
2. Explain the user story or task: The product owner explains the user story or task to the team, providing any necessary details or clarifications.
3. Individual estimation: Each member of the team individually estimates the effort required to complete the user story or task, using a set of playing cards with values assigned to them. The most common set of values used for Planning Poker are Fibonacci numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.).
4. Discussion and clarification: After each team member has made their estimation, the team discusses the values they assigned and the reasons for their estimations. Any misunderstandings or uncertainties are clarified during this discussion.
5. Re-estimation: If there is significant variation in the estimations, the team members re-estimate the user story or task using the same process.
6. Repeat for each user story or task: The team repeats this process for each user story or task in the product backlog.
7. Final estimation: Once all user stories or tasks have been estimated, the team and the product owner review and finalise the estimates, taking into account any dependencies or uncertainties.

Planning Poker is a useful technique for estimation in Agile because it encourages collaboration and discussion among team members, and helps to minimise individual bias or influence on the estimation process. It can also help to improve accuracy and consistency in estimation over time, as the team gains experience and refines their estimation process.

What is Continuous Integration and why it is important for Agile?

Continuous Integration (CI) is a development practice in which developers frequently integrate code changes into a shared repository. This allows for early detection of errors or conflicts, and ensures that the code base is always in a stable and functional state. CI is an important aspect of Agile development because it supports the iterative and incremental development process that is central to Agile methodologies.

The benefits of Continuous Integration in Agile development include:

1. Early detection of issues: CI enables developers to detect issues or conflicts early in the development process, before they become more difficult and costly to fix.
2. Faster feedback: CI provides faster feedback to developers on the impact of their code changes, allowing them to make adjustments more quickly and efficiently.
3. Increased collaboration: CI promotes increased collaboration among developers by ensuring that everyone is working with the same code base and has access to the latest changes.
4. Improved code quality: CI helps to ensure that the code base is always in a stable and functional state, which improves code quality and reduces the likelihood of bugs or errors.
5. Faster time-to-market: CI allows for faster development and delivery of features, which helps organizations to get their products to market more quickly and stay ahead of the competition.

Continuous Integration is an important practice in Agile development because it supports the rapid and iterative development process that is central to Agile methodologies. By providing early detection of issues, faster feedback, increased collaboration, improved code quality, and faster time-to-market, CI helps Agile teams to deliver high-quality software that meets the needs of their customers.

What are the software/tools available for the same?

There are many software and tools available for continuous integration (CI), and some of the popular ones are:

1. Jenkins: It is an open-source CI tool that provides a wide range of plugins and integrations with other tools.
2. Travis CI: It is a cloud-based CI tool that supports GitHub projects and is easy to set up.
3. CircleCI: It is another cloud-based CI tool that supports GitHub and Bitbucket projects.
4. GitLab CI: It is a built-in CI tool for GitLab, a web-based Git repository manager.
5. Bamboo: It is an on-premise CI server developed by Atlassian, which also provides Jira and Confluence.
6. TeamCity: It is an on-premise CI server developed by JetBrains, which also provides IntelliJ IDEA and other IDEs.
7. CodeShip: It is a cloud-based CI tool that provides a simple and straightforward setup.
8. Semaphore: It is a cloud-based CI tool that provides a customisable build environment.
9. GoCD: It is an open-source CI/CD server developed by ThoughtWorks that supports complex build workflows.
10. Azure DevOps: It is a cloud-based CI/CD tool developed by Microsoft that provides a wide range of integrations and services.

What is difference between Product backlog & Sprint Backlog?

Product backlog and sprint backlog are both artifacts used in the Agile Scrum framework for software development. Here are the differences between the two:

Product Backlog	Sprint Backlog
The product backlog is a list of all the features, enhancements, and requirements that the product owner wants to include in the final product. It is a living document that evolves over the course of the project.	The sprint backlog, on the other hand, is a list of items from the product backlog that the team has committed to delivering during a specific sprint.
The product backlog contains all the items that the product owner deems important for the final product, such as features, enhancements, and bug fixes.	The sprint backlog, on the other hand, contains only those items that the team has committed to delivering during a specific sprint.
The product backlog is owned by the product owner, who is responsible for prioritising the items and ensuring that they align with the product vision and goals.	The sprint backlog, on the other hand, is owned by the development team, who is responsible for deciding how to deliver the items during the sprint.
The product backlog is more flexible than the sprint backlog, as it can change at any time based on the changing needs of the product owner or the market.	The sprint backlog, on the other hand, is fixed for the duration of the sprint and cannot be changed without the agreement of the development team.
The product backlog is the complete set of requirements for the product	the sprint backlog is a subset of the product backlog that can be delivered in a single sprint.

The product backlog is a high-level view of the project, while the sprint backlog is a more detailed view of what the team will be working on during a specific sprint. Both backlogs are important artifacts in the Agile Scrum framework, and they work together to ensure that the project is moving in the right direction and delivering value to the customer.

What is difference between Epic, User stories & Tasks?

In Agile software development, Epics, User Stories, and Tasks are different types of artifacts that are used to manage the development process. Here are the differences between the three and who should create User Stories and Tasks:

1. Epic: An Epic is a large user story that cannot be completed in a single sprint. Epics represent a large feature or requirement that needs to be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Epics are created by the product owner, who is responsible for identifying the major features of the product.
2. User Story: A User Story is a small, self-contained piece of work that represents a single requirement or feature. User Stories are created by the product owner and are used to describe the functionality that the user wants. User Stories are written from the user’s perspective, and they help to ensure that the development team is building software that meets the user’s needs.
3. Task: A Task is a small, actionable item that represents a specific step in the development process. Tasks are created by the development team and are used to break down User Stories into smaller pieces. Tasks are usually associated with a User Story and are used to track progress during a sprint.

Who should create User Stories and Tasks?

User Stories are created by the product owner, who is responsible for ensuring that the development team is building software that meets the needs of the user. The development team is responsible for creating Tasks, which are used to break down User Stories into smaller pieces that can be completed in a single sprint. The development team should collaborate with the product owner to ensure that the Tasks are aligned with the User Stories and that they represent the best approach for implementing the User Story.

What is Pair Programming? What’s the benefit of that?

Pair Programming is an Agile software development practice in which two developers work together on the same task, at the same workstation. One person is the driver, who is responsible for writing the code, while the other person is the navigator, who provides feedback, reviews the code, and thinks strategically about the development process.

The benefits of Pair Programming include:

1. Improved Code Quality: With two developers working together, there are more opportunities to catch errors, improve code structure, and find better solutions to problems. This leads to higher-quality code and fewer bugs.
2. Knowledge Sharing: Pair Programming helps to spread knowledge and skills across the development team. Developers can learn from each other, share best practices, and gain a deeper understanding of the codebase.
3. Increased Collaboration: Pair Programming encourages collaboration and communication between developers. Developers can share ideas, discuss problems, and work together to find solutions. This helps to build a sense of teamwork and camaraderie within the development team.
4. Faster Problem-Solving: With two developers working together, problems can be solved more quickly. Developers can bounce ideas off each other, brainstorm solutions, and work through problems more efficiently.
5. Reduced Risk: Pair Programming helps to reduce the risk of delays, project failure, and technical debt. By catching errors early and working together to find solutions, Pair Programming can help to keep projects on track and ensure that the code is maintainable in the long term.

Pair Programming is an effective way to improve code quality, promote collaboration and knowledge sharing, and reduce risk in software development projects.

What is TDD (Test Driven Development)?

Test Driven Development (TDD) is an Agile software development practice that involves writing tests before writing the code. With TDD, developers write a test for a small piece of functionality, and then write the code that will make the test pass. The process is repeated for each piece of functionality, with tests being written before the code is developed.

The TDD process typically involves the following steps:

1. Write a Test: The developer writes a test for a small piece of functionality that needs to be added to the codebase. The test is designed to fail, as the code has not yet been written.
2. Run the Test: The developer runs the test and confirms that it fails, as expected.
3. Write the Code: The developer writes the code that will make the test pass.
4. Run the Test Again: The developer runs the test again and confirms that it now passes.
5. Refactor the Code: The developer refactors the code to improve its quality, without changing its functionality.
6. Repeat: The process is repeated for each piece of functionality, with tests being written before the code is developed.

The benefits of TDD include:

Improved Code Quality: TDD encourages developers to write more reliable and maintainable code. By writing tests before writing the code, developers can catch errors early and ensure that the code is working as expected.

Faster Development: TDD can help to speed up the development process, as bugs are caught early and the code is easier to maintain.

Better Collaboration: TDD encourages collaboration between developers, as they work together to write tests and ensure that the code is working as expected.

Reduced Risk: TDD can help to reduce the risk of project failure, as bugs are caught early and the code is easier to maintain.

TDD is an effective Agile software development practice that can help to improve code quality, speed up development, and reduce risk.

What do you mean by Iterative and Incremental Development in Agile?

Iterative and Incremental Development are two key concepts in Agile software development.

Iterative Development is an Agile approach to software development where the project is divided into small chunks called iterations. Each iteration involves completing a subset of features or requirements that are prioritized by the product owner. At the end of each iteration, a working software product is produced that can be demonstrated to stakeholders for feedback. The development team then uses this feedback to refine and improve the product in the next iteration. This iterative process continues until the final product is completed.

Incremental Development is another Agile approach to software development where the project is divided into small increments. Each increment is a complete subset of features or requirements that can be delivered to the customer for use. This incremental delivery of functionality allows the customer to start using the product early in the development process, and provide feedback that can be used to improve the product in subsequent increments.

The key difference between iterative and incremental development is that iterative development focuses on producing a working product at the end of each iteration, while incremental development focuses on delivering a complete subset of functionality at the end of each increment. Both approaches are used in Agile software development to enable flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements and feedback.

Iterative and incremental development are important concepts in Agile software development that allow teams to deliver working software in a flexible and adaptable manner.

What is Burn-Down or Burn-Up Chart in Agile?

Burn-Down and Burn-Up Charts are Agile project management tools used to track progress and provide visibility into the project’s status.

Burn-Down Chart: A Burn-Down Chart is a graphical representation of the work remaining in a sprint or release. It shows the amount of work remaining versus time. At the start of the sprint or release, the chart will show a high amount of work remaining, and as the project progresses, the amount of work remaining will decrease. The slope of the chart indicates the rate at which work is being completed. The ideal trend line of a Burn-Down Chart is a straight line from the start of the sprint to the end, representing the planned completion of all work by the end of the sprint.

Burn-Up Chart: A Burn-Up Chart is another graphical representation of progress. It shows the amount of work completed versus time. At the start of the sprint or release, the chart will show zero work completed, and as the project progresses, the amount of work completed will increase. The slope of the chart indicates the rate at which work is being completed. The ideal trend line of a Burn-Up Chart is a straight line from the start of the sprint to the end, representing the planned completion of all work by the end of the sprint.

The main benefit of using Burn-Down or Burn-Up Charts in Agile is that they provide a clear visual representation of the project’s progress, enabling stakeholders to identify potential issues early on and take corrective action if necessary. They also help teams to identify trends, such as a slower rate of progress than anticipated, which can be addressed before they become significant problems.

Burn-Down and Burn-Up Charts are valuable Agile project management tools that provide stakeholders with a clear picture of progress and enable teams to make data-driven decisions.

What do you mean by Velocity in Agile? 

Velocity is a key Agile metric used to measure the amount of work a team can complete in a given iteration (usually a sprint). It is typically measured in story points, which is a relative measure of the size and complexity of user stories or other work items.

Velocity is calculated by summing up the story points of all the completed user stories or work items in the iteration. The team’s velocity is then averaged over several iterations to obtain a more accurate estimate of the team’s capacity.

Velocity provides several benefits in Agile development:

1. Predictability: Velocity can be used to predict how much work a team can complete in future iterations. This helps with planning and enables the team to commit to a realistic amount of work in each iteration.
2. Iteration planning: Velocity is used during iteration planning to determine how much work the team can commit to completing in the upcoming iteration. It provides a benchmark for the team to work towards.
3. Continuous improvement: By tracking velocity over time, teams can identify trends in their performance and make adjustments to improve their capacity.

Velocity is a useful metric in Agile development that provides teams with valuable insights into their capacity, helping them to plan and improve their performance over time.

27. What does Task board indicates in Agile?

A task board is an Agile project management tool used to visually represent the progress of work during an iteration (usually a sprint). It is typically a physical or digital board that contains columns for each stage of the development process, such as “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.”

The task board is populated with sticky notes or cards, each representing a task or user story. As work progresses, the cards are moved from one column to the next, providing a clear visual indication of the progress of the project.

The main benefits of a task board in Agile include:

1. Visualisation: The task board provides a clear and simple way to visualise the progress of work, helping team members to stay on track and focused on completing the work in the iteration.
2. Transparency: The task board provides transparency into the work being done, making it easy for stakeholders to see the progress of the project and identify potential issues.
3. Collaboration: The task board provides a shared space where team members can collaborate and communicate about the work being done, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
4. Continuous Improvement: The task board enables teams to identify bottlenecks and other issues in the development process, allowing them to make adjustments and improve their performance over time.

A task board is an important Agile project management tool that provides visibility and transparency into the progress of work, helping teams to stay focused and on track to deliver high-quality software in a timely manner.

What is a Release candidate?

A release candidate (RC) is a version of a software product that is considered to be stable enough for release to customers or end-users. It is a candidate for final release, which means that it has undergone significant testing and bug fixing, and is expected to have no major issues or bugs.

A release candidate is typically the final step in the software release process, occurring after the beta testing phase. During the release candidate phase, the software is made available to a wider group of users or customers for final testing and validation. If no major issues or bugs are found during this testing, the software is deemed ready for release.

Release candidates are often marked with a version number that indicates that it is a candidate for release. For example, a software product that is currently in the release candidate phase may be marked with a version number such as “1.0 RC1” or “2.0 Release Candidate 2.”

The release candidate phase is an important part of the software release process, as it provides a final opportunity to identify and fix any remaining issues before the software is released to customers or end-users. By ensuring that the software is stable and reliable, release candidates help to minimise the risk of customer dissatisfaction or negative impact on business operations.

What is a Test stub?

In software testing, a test stub is a piece of code that mimics the behavior of a software component or module that a software component under test depends on. It is a temporary replacement for the actual component that is not yet available or has not been fully implemented.

Test stubs are typically used in the context of unit testing and integration testing, where the code being tested may rely on other components or services that are not yet available or fully functional. The stub code is used to simulate the behavior of these dependencies, allowing the code being tested to be executed and tested in isolation.

For example, if a software component relies on a database to store and retrieve data, but the database is not yet available for testing, a test stub can be used to simulate the behavior of the database. The test stub may simply return predefined data or values when queried, allowing the software component to be tested without relying on the actual database.

Test stubs are often used in combination with other testing techniques such as mocking and faking, which also involve simulating the behavior of software components that a code under test depends on. By using these techniques, software developers can test their code in isolation, without the need to wait for all dependencies to be fully implemented or available.

What is Re-factoring?

Refactoring is the process of making changes to the internal structure or design of software code without changing its external behavior or functionality. The goal of refactoring is to improve the code’s readability, maintainability, and performance, while reducing its complexity and minimising the risk of bugs or errors.

Refactoring is often done as part of a larger software development process, such as Agile or Scrum, where continuous improvement is emphasised. It is typically done in small increments, and often involves making changes to the code to improve its structure, eliminate redundancy, or make it more modular.

Some common examples of refactoring techniques include:

• Extracting a method or function to make it more reusable or to reduce duplication
• Renaming variables or functions to make the code more readable and self-explanatory
• Simplifying complex conditional statements or loops to make the code more concise
• Breaking up large code blocks into smaller, more manageable pieces
• Removing dead or unused code that is no longer needed

Refactoring is important because it helps to maintain the quality of the software code over time. By improving the code’s structure and reducing complexity, it becomes easier to maintain, test, and extend, which can save time and effort in the long run. Additionally, refactoring can help to reduce the risk of bugs or errors by making the code more robust and easier to understand.

How do you know that you are using agile development?

You can know that you are using agile development if you see the following characteristics and practices in your software development process:

1. Iterative and incremental approach: You break down the project into small, manageable pieces or user stories, and you prioritise these user stories based on customer needs. You complete the work in short iterations or sprints, with each sprint delivering a working product increment.
2. Emphasis on collaboration and communication: You encourage face-to-face interactions and open communication channels between team members, stakeholders, and the customer. You value input and contributions from all team members, regardless of their role or seniority.
3. Flexibility and adaptability: You embrace change and respond quickly to feedback and new information. You continuously assess and adjust your plans and processes based on what you learn.
4. Continuous delivery and improvement: You focus on delivering value to the customer as quickly as possible. You use feedback from the customer and team members to continuously improve the product and the development process.
5. Empowerment and ownership: You encourage team members to take ownership of their work and to be empowered to make decisions and take actions that will benefit the project. You value collaboration and contributions from all team members.
6. Customer-centric approach: You place the customer at the center of the development process, with a focus on delivering a product that meets their needs and expectations. You encourage frequent customer feedback and collaboration to ensure that the product is meeting their needs.
7. Test-driven development: You often use test-driven development (TDD), where tests are written before the code is written, to ensure that the code is designed to meet the requirements and that it is easy to test.

If you see these characteristics and practices in your software development process, you are likely using an Agile methodology.