• ExtremeFishbowlAtXpUniverse

ExtremeFishbowl was presented at XpUniverse 2002 as an ActivitySession.

Images of ExtremeFishbowl can be found here: (warning... slow loading page)

http://jeff.grover.home.att.net/xpu.html (Thanks for immortalizing me with a photo! -- JbRainsberger)

• Title: Extreme Fishbowl
• Summary

Attendees at ExtremeFishbowl will see an XP team in action. As the XP fishbowl team is busy creating software, a small group of "experts" will be commentating on the activities of the programming team. Members of the audience will be able to participate by joining the "fishbowl" team.

• Motivation

Watching a football game with John Madden is both more educational and more entertaining than without him. What I propose with this presentation is to bring exciting play-by-play commentary to the very controversial arena of Extreme Programming.

Whether we like it or not, ExtremeProgramming is changing how we create software. As I speak with others in the industry, they say, “Yeah, I’ve tried XP and I kinda like it.” Or sometimes, “I have seen it, and I really hate it.” To really understand XP, a person must be actively immersed in the practices. Since most of us have learned XP from reading, trying some principles and attending conferences, it is always very interesting to watch and listen to others as they talk about and practice XP. It is my listening, watching and participation in XP that gave birth to ExtremeFishbowl. Every time we have run ExtremeFishbowl, I have discovered something new.

• The Session Format
  • Introduction/Background:
    • Explain previously completed Release and Iteration Planning.

    • Introduce the rules of the ExtremeFishbowl format.

    • Specify acceptance criteria for the UserStories being worked on.

  • Presentation:
    • Programmers program, commentators comment.
    • New programmers will rotate in from the audience.
    • Exit interviews conducted with departing programmers.
    • Commentators replaced by audience members.
    • The cycle repeats.
  • Conclusion: questions and comments will be taken from the audience.
• The Players

This presentation requires a team of programmers and a team of commentators, primarily composed from members the audience. In addition, I have contacted a number of agile development experts, asking them to help with either commentating or programming. Those willing to participate include AlistairCockburn, JamesGrenning, BrianButton, KenAuer, RonJeffries, MichaelFeathers, JeffGrover and KayJohansen. Also, I will invite others to participate. For example, if the conference schedule allows, it would be ideal to have Kent and Bob programming while Ron and Ward comment on their work.

• My background

In July of '99, I introduced XP into my company as a grassroots effort through advocacy and education. Later that year, I attended the first XP Immersion. Since then, I have taught many classes on XP, co-founded XpUtah, and helped James Grenning with the tutorial “XP For a Day” at XpUniverse 2001.

ExtremeFishbowl has been presented to XpUtah, Utah Java Users Group, and the Chasm Bridge Agile Development Summit.

-ZhonJohansen

Another article potentially to be published, WritingLegacyCode