Agile Programming

Longtime readers of this blog know that I’m a big proponent of Danube’s project management tool ScrumWorks Pro. The company released a major release back in August (ScrumWorks Pro 4) that added some exceptionally flexible program management capabilities to the tool, but, since then, they’ve been issuing point releases at a swift clip. One of the reasons for this is their new Community Portal, a forum where ScrumWorks Pro users can communicate directly with the tool’s Product Owner and Development Team as well as one another. There, users can suggest features to be added in future releases, vote on other users’ ideas, or simply post a question they need help with. When I first heard about it, it sounded like a great idea—a way to create a true community of Scrum users who can work together to continually improve the tool. But now the fruits of Danube’s labor are starting to show. For example, if you head here, you can actually see what features have been implemented in the tool based on the conversations generated on this forum. Very cool.

What I especially love about this concept is that it actually shows how Danube uses Scrum and agile processes and values to shape ScrumWorks Pro. For instance, the Portal acts as a great information radiator—any user can quickly see what’s being worked on and who’s discussing what ideas. Likewise, it offers the Development Team an abbreviated feedback loop, so they’re always calibrating their product direction based on the emerging needs of customers. It makes me happy to see a Scrum company putting its money where its mouth is!