20-year journey through software methodologies reveals they're 'collective fictions' - useful for collaboration but not sacred texts
Ian Miell's reflective piece on experiencing multiple software development methodologies over two decades. Key insight: methodologies are 'collective fictions' that help teams collaborate but don't perfectly reflect reality. His journey spans from Waterfall (rigid specs) through RAD to Agile (often implemented superficially). The core lesson: no single methodology works perfectly everywhere; team trust and communication matter more than strict adherence. As he notes, 'Whichever one you pick is not going to reflect the reality, but if you expect perfection you will be disappointed.' The message is pragmatic - choose methodologies as tools to help teams work together, not as dogma to follow blindly. Success comes from focusing on collaboration, adaptability, and solving actual problems rather than rigid process adherence.
Check out the full stdlib collection for more frameworks, templates, and guides to accelerate your technical leadership journey.