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Lean Startup

Eric Ries‘ seminal book The Lean Startup can be applied to many facets of software development.

Lean methods aren’t just for startups – they’re a way to spend less money and effort building the right (and most profitable) thing.

Software development is inherently unpredictable, and companies that invest heavily to design and then build a comprehensive software product or service before delivering any of it to customers often lose money.

This typically happens because the designed product includes a large number of ideas, and only a small percentage of these turn out to be valuable to users. In some cases, the core theory of it’s most valuable feature is a mistake, making the entire product a failure.

Eric describes in The Lean Startup approaches he used at his first companies to employ the scientific method to direct the activities teams use to deliver products. He also provides examples of how to do so with minimal investment.


All Content about Lean Startup

The Secret to Finding Profitable Software Ideas

September 25, 2024 | 13:32

Learn how to find profitable software product ideas by identifying real customer problems and validating your idea before building.

Why are Programmers Terrified of Self-Employment?

May 29, 2024 | 15:55

Most programmers have considered self-employment at one time or another, but fear grips them when they think about how to even get started.

How Solopreneur Programmers Turn Content Into Cash

April 15, 2024 | 33:38

Making videos, podcasts, or blogs could be just what your career as a programmer needs. But it could also be a complete waste of time.

Why Nobody’s Buying Your Ideas in Tech

March 25, 2024 | 27:58

How can you really connect with the person you’re convincing in tech, so they can understand the value you offer – and buy your idea?

Why Do Most Programmers Who Start Companies Fail?

January 30, 2024 | 27:57

Here are some practical tips to avoid pitfalls as a software engineer if you want to start a software company – and be successful!

3 Ways Programmers Escape The Corporate Grind

January 8, 2024 | 39:45

If you’re tired to the deadlines, pressure, and unrealistic expectations – it may be time to take programming for money into your own hands.

Are Programmers Really to Blame for BAD Estimates?

July 27, 2022 | 16:51

When programmers estimate code on software projects and they turn out wrong, who’s to blame?

Measure Progress Software Project
Should You Really Measure Progress On A Software Project?

June 12, 2018 | 7:55

You can help a company profit more with the software they build by showing them the right things to measure – but expect some resistance on your project…

Scrum Is The Motor Of Your Agile Software Project
Scrum Is The “Motor” Of Your Project, But Who’s Steering?

June 5, 2018 | 8:57

When talking about the differences between scrum (or kanban) and agile development, the motor and steering wheel of a car can be a useful analogy.

Spot Fake Agile Team
Spot A Fake Agile Team In Under 7 Minutes!

May 22, 2018 | 6:33

It’s always been popular to tell people how they’re “doing it wrong” and agile software development is just as easy to call “fake”.

Product Manager Programmer Friend
A Product Manager Is A Programmer’s Best Friend!

April 24, 2018 | 28:43

Software developers are often frustrated when a product manager changes the design at the last minute. But product managers are a programmer’s best friend!

Impact Mapping Software
Impact Mapping: What’s Your Software Development Worth?

March 20, 2018 | 11:48

If you’ve ever been on a software project and wondered: “what’s the impact of the work I’m doing?”, impact mapping will help you immensely.

business model canvas agile
How A Business Model Canvas Helps Agile Teams

March 17, 2018 | 16:35

If you’ve ever thought “who came up with these ideas?”, you probably need a business model canvas on your agile development team.

Lean Leadership Learns
Leadership Skills for Lean Software Development

March 16, 2018 | 10:40

It takes special software leadership skills to learn what customers want through lean software development.

Feature Factory Lean Startup
Is Your Software Company a Feature Factory Or Lean Startup?

March 15, 2018 | 11:10

Why do some companies build products with the freedom of a lean startup, while others deliver boring products like a feature factory run by control freaks?

agile budget
An Agile Budget Keeps You From Being A Code Monkey

March 1, 2018 | 20:24

An agile budget is a major key to healthy software development company culture – and careers! Budgeting is something we don’t pay attention to enough.

Secret of Scrum
The Secret of Scrum Nobody Talks About

February 21, 2018 | 7:16

Too many companies and agile coaches keep the secret of scrum from people! Without understanding WHY to use scrum – misery often results.

overcome-attachment
Overcome Attachment: Discover Lean Software Development

October 17, 2017 | 16:46

To let the customer take a larger role in deciding what’s in your product, and release it multiple times per day — you’ll have to overcome attachment.

feature-factory
How To Shut Down Your Feature Factory

October 6, 2017 | 19:20

The term “feature factory” coined by John Cutler is an accurate description of what happens when a software team pursues output above all else.

failure produces better software
How Failure Produces BETTER Software Projects!

September 10, 2017 | 35:48

A team that learns from software project failure produces better software – when you plan to exploit this ability.

uncertainty impacts software development processes
How UNCERTAINTY Impacts Software Development Processes

August 24, 2017 | 45:49

Whether they realize it or not, many people in software development companies select processes based on their tolerance for uncertainty.

software redesign mistakes
Top 5 Software Redesign Mistakes By Software Companies!

July 21, 2017 | 10:41

Getting ready to redesign a new version of a software product? Avoid the top 5 software redesign mistakes I see made all too often.

evolving software architecture
Evolving Software Architecture To Adapt With Product Growth

July 19, 2017 | 22:28

Evolving software architecture to adapt to product growth helps you deliver faster and refactor easier as the project progresses.

a/b software development
How To A/B Software Development To Find What Customers Value

July 15, 2017 | 23:29

A/B software development to find what customers value. Relying on planning up front based on customer feedback and research just isn’t competitive!

Software Estimation
Software Estimation – Trading Perceived Effort For Outcomes

July 6, 2017 | 56:07

Experienced technologists know the variables in software development are nuts, and estimating to account for all possible outcomes doesn’t work.

Minimum Viable Product
Minimum Viable Product – Letting Software Customers Help You Profit

July 5, 2017 | 30:30

Avoid the traps many teams who have never delivered a software product in a truly agile fashion encounter when delivering a minimum viable product.

Agile Project Management
Agile Project Management – Is It Stopping You From Being Agile?

July 4, 2017 | 15:47

If your team is pursuing agile but it doesn’t feel like it lives up to the industry hype, confusion about agile project management may be the culprit.

Lean Software Development It's About Uncertainty
Lean Software Development – It’s About Uncertainty

July 3, 2017 | 13:34

Your software team can avoid becoming irrelevant in today’s shifting technology market by investing in and building software differently.

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