Talks

Lightning Talk: Shape Up

Lightning Talk: Shape Up

by Giovann Filippi

In this lightning talk at Blue Ridge Ruby 2024, Giovann Filippi introduces the Shape Up software development methodology created by 37signals, known for products like Basecamp and Hey.com. The talk emphasizes the importance of simplifying software development by enhancing collaboration between developers, the product team, and the business, which ultimately transforms the decision-making process.

Key points discussed include:
- Introduction to Shape Up: Shape Up is not Agile, Waterfall, or Scrum; it introduces a unique framework and eliminates the concept of a backlog.
- Experience with Shape Up: Filippi shares his positive experience implementing Shape Up at Real Response in Charlotte, highlighting that the methodology was adopted after a new developer introduced it.
- Core Concepts: The methodology is characterized by six-week development cycles, which provide ample time for meaningful progress while including built-in cooldown periods for developers to focus on their own interests and improvements.
- Flexibility: Shape Up encourages starting with a problem rather than a well-defined solution, facilitating exploration and adaptation throughout the development process.
- Collaboration: The talk emphasizes how Shape Up fosters an environment where collaboration between developers and designers flourishes, leading to higher job satisfaction.

Filippi concludes by encouraging attendees to explore Shape Up and consider its implementation within their teams. The talk invites a paradigm shift in how software teams approach development, showcasing Shape Up's potential for improving the overall development experience and process.

00:00:11.880 All right, this is my first lightning talk. I used to call it a fireside chat, but it's a lightning talk, so thank you for the opportunity. I'm going to discuss Shape Up.
00:00:19.760 I don’t have any slides or presentations, just one URL. Is anyone here familiar with Shape Up? That's cool! Great to hear. How many of you use it as your main methodology for software development?
00:00:30.679 Okay, so a few. I wanted to discuss this a little bit. We implemented Shape Up at a company called Real Response in Charlotte, and we've been using it for almost two years now. I just wanted to talk about some of the differences and reasons why this methodology is worth looking into.
00:00:49.680 For those of you who don't know, Shape Up is a software methodology created by the wonderful people at 37signals, the creators of Basecamp and Hey.com. It stems from their philosophy on how to simplify software development by keeping things simple.
00:01:03.879 It also aims to change the way we think about the relationship between the developers, the product team, and the business. It focuses on how decisions are made and how to bring these roles closer together. This way, you avoid the cycle where someone makes decisions while others provide all the answers and mocks in a very linear fashion. It’s not a one-way street; instead, developers can contribute to the process.
00:01:41.600 Now, some things Shape Up is not: it's not Agile, it's not Waterfall, and it's not Scrum. There is no backlog. It's a different way of thinking about how you look at the scope of your organization and your planning process. Many aspects change as a result.
00:02:05.799 I've worked at companies where we had traditional Scrum planning, and I found that to be very challenging. Many teams share these challenges. I was fortunate enough to start at a small company with a few developers, where we didn’t really have a process. When we hired a new developer, John, who had experience with Shape Up, he suggested that we consider it.
00:02:41.159 So, we started implementing it in September of 2022. We began with a simple spreadsheet that listed cycle start and end dates, tested it out, and gradually began to implement some of the core concepts within the company.
00:03:03.760 Shape Up involves a different way of presenting ideas and selecting ideas for development. One key distinction in Shape Up is the use of six-week cycles. They frame it as a long enough period to accomplish something meaningful, avoiding the pitfalls of the traditional two-cycle loops.
00:03:28.319 At the end of each cycle, there are retrospectives and a built-in cooldown period, allowing developers two weeks to work on what they find important at the time. This flexibility leads to increased developer satisfaction, which is vital. Working in an environment that fosters collaboration between designers and developers is extremely rewarding.
00:04:03.400 In Shape Up, everything doesn't have to be well-defined when starting a project. You start with a problem as your foundation, and from there, you explore possible solutions while working on the project. This approach allows you to answer questions that might not be obvious at first and facilitates making changes as you progress.
00:04:53.960 For me, the process has been a pleasure to work with. If you’re not familiar with Shape Up, I encourage you to look into it and see how it can be implemented on your team, perhaps as an experiment. Additionally, consider the advantages of working with companies that use Shape Up when making a potential switch.
00:05:18.560 That’s it!