Extreme Programming Refactored: The Case Against XP
by
Matt Stephens, Doug Rosenberg
Apress
1 edition
August 2003
432 pages
Reviewed by Ilja Preuss, December 2003
(2 of 10)
Trying to show the shortcomings of XP in a satirical way and proposing changes to make it less fragile is a noble goal, and this book has some points to make. Its vast majority is composed of misunderstandings and logical fallacies, though.
Many XP practices are violently misrepresented. The "thorough analysis" promised on the front cover often comes down to quoting an XP proponent out of context and making fun of it. One of the most ridiculous examples is when they quote Ron Jeffries with "'There must be food' is a core XP principle" and then hold XP responsible for the vermin problem of a company.
Another common pattern is the reference to a project which failed to implement XP followed by the conclusion that XPs demands are unrealistic. Reports of successful implementations are with a handwaving attributed to not doing XP by the book.
The style of the book is questionable, too. At times its tone is quite aggressive - ideas are called "idiotic", XP proponents are accused of intellectual dishonesty. Quotes of XPers are marked with a picture of Marx Groucho, so that you don't accidentally take them seriously. I don't think that satire is good in making someone understand a new concept; satire based on an already distorted view feels painfully pointless.
If you have already made up your mind about XP and enjoy making fun of it, you might like this book. I can't recommend it to anyone interested in a serious criticism, though.
(2 of 10)
