Lightweight process

Lightweight process is a software development approach that prioritizes simplicity, flexibility, and speed over rigid, bureaucratic methodologies. It's the software equivalent of using a scooter to zip through traffic while others are stuck in their bloated, overengineered SUVs.

How to use it in a sentence

  • "We need to adopt a more lightweight process for this project - I don't have time to fill out a million Jira tickets just to change a button color," grumbled the senior engineer as he contemplated switching to a startup.

  • The team at Trendify.io swears by their lightweight process, claiming it allows them to "move fast and break things" - though the pile of broken things seems to be growing by the day.

If you actually want to learn more...

  • Martin Fowler explores various lightweight processes like XP, Scrum, and Crystal in his article The New Methodology, perfect for those who want to sound smart at agile meetups.

  • If you're wondering how to scale your lightweight process beyond a couple of pizza-fueled hackers, check out the report on the Canadian Workshop on Scaling XP/Agile Methods - poutine not included.

  • For a dose of reality on why your lightweight process might not be working, read Fowler's Boiled Carrot analogy. Spoiler alert: you're probably doing it wrong.

Note: the Developer Dictionary is in Beta. Please direct feedback to skye@statsig.com.

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