Concerning Tom's Blog Entry:
Agile software development- as I understand it after the first lecture ... (Tom's Blog)"The Agile approach sees software development as discovery process in which multiple versions of a product are created time after time in steps called iterations and each version is tested and experienced by users which make suggestions for the following versions."
This sounds to me like the "normal" software product lifecycle, where you have continously release changes and upgrades, etc.
Maybe the "Principles behind agile methods — The Agile Manifesto" listed in wikipedia may help to make it more clear, what is to understand by agile software development:
- Customer satisfaction by rapid, continuous delivery of useful software
- Working software is delivered frequently (weeks rather than months)
- Working software is the principal measure of progress.
- Even late changes in requirements are welcomed.
- Close, daily, cooperation between business people and developers
- Face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication.
- Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted
- Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design.
- Simplicity
- Self-organizing teams
- Regular adaptation to changing circumstances
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development