James Shore

in 99 words

Projects use three main types of documents: work-in-progress; product; hand-off.

Work-in-progress documents communicate, and other forms of communication may replace them. High-bandwidth communication replaces some work-in-progress documents. Test-driven development creates executable low-level design specifications. Customer tests describe high-level behavior, and a ubiquitous language further clarifies intent.

Product documents have business value--schedule them with stories.

Handoff documents are best and most accurate at the end of the project. Set aside time after delivery to create them, and consider conducting an incremental handoff using pair programming and collective ownership.

Commentary

The Documentation Myth

Inside the Book

• Documentation
• Work-In-Progress Documentation
• Product Documentation
• Handoff Documentation
• Questions
  • Isn't it a risk to reduce the amount of documentation?
• Results
• Contraindications
• Alternatives