Agile a thousand years ago

2 August 2008 Development agile, Java, rules, vikings

I went on a trip with three mates to see the western part of Norway this summer. You know, where the fjords and the mountains are. On one of the ferries I came across a poster with the Viking Laws on it. The authenticity could probably be disputed, but they fit nicely into agile software development. Agile isn’t all that new I guess. 😉 Here they are:

Be brave and aggressive

• Be direct
• Grab all opportunities
• Using varying methods of attack
• Be versatile and agile
• Attack one target at a time
• Don’t plan everything in detail
• Use top quality weapons

Be prepared

• Keep weapons in good condition
• Keep in shape
• Find good battle comrades
• Agree on important points
• Choose one chief

Be a good merchant

• Find out what the market needs
• Don’t make promises that you can’t keep
• Don’t demand overpayment
• Arrange things so that you can return

Keep the camp in order

• Keep things tidy and organized
• Arrange enjoyable activities which strengthen the group
• Make sure everyone does useful work
• Consult all members of the group for advice

So now we can feel a bit rutheless and barbaric when trying to be agile. A good poster in any agile team’s room. 🙂