In 2001, a group of seventeen individuals, referred to as “thought leaders,” came together to discuss better ways of developing software. They met first in Oregon and later in Utah, where they formalized the Agile Manifesto and the Twelve Principles. The Manifesto has since become the guiding philosophy for Agile software development.

The Manifesto reads:

We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:

• • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
  • Working software over comprehensive documentation
  • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
  • Responding to change over following a plan

That is,  while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

This philosophy has transformed the way teams approach software development, encouraging iterative and collaborative practices that enable them to deliver value faster while adapting to changes. By focusing on the people involved and the end result rather than rigid processes and plans, Agile has become an essential methodology for software development in the modern era.