From XP to TCR & Limbo • Kent Beck & Daniel Terhorst-North

GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.
https://gotopia.tech

Read the full transcription of this interview here

Kent Beck - Software Engineer & Creator of Extreme Programming
Daniel Terhorst-North - Originator of Behavior Driven Development (BDD) & Principal at Dan North & Associates
RESOURCES
Kent
https://bsky.app/profile/kentbeck.bsky.social
https://www.kentbeck.com
https://github.com/KentBeck
https://twitter.com/KentBeck
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentbeck

Daniel
https://bsky.app/profile/tastapod.com
https://twitter.com/tastapod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tastapod
https://github.com/tastapod
https://mastodon.social/@tastapod
http://dannorth.net/blog
DESCRIPTION
Kent Beck and Daniel Terhorst-North reflect on the evolution of Extreme Programming (XP) and its lasting impact on agile software development. They explore the importance of short feedback loops, iterative learning, and adaptability in different phases of product development, as outlined in Beck’s 3X model (Exploration, Expansion, Extraction).
Kent introduces radical techniques like Test && Commit || Revert (TCR) and Limbo, which challenge traditional coding and collaboration practices by emphasizing tiny, safe iterations. The conversation ties in psychological safety, a key factor in high-performing teams, as outlined by Amy C. Edmondson.
Kent envisions a future where software development scales in real-time, pushing teams to embrace faster experimentation, responsibility, and continuous learning in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Kent Beck • Tidy First?
Kent Beck & Cynthia Andres • Extreme Programming Explained
Amy C. Edmondson • The Fearless Organization
Amy C. Edmondson • Right Kind of Wrong
Jez Humble & David Farley • Continuous Delivery

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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Extreme Programming (XP) (00:01:32)

3. The power of feedback & Continuous Delivery (00:03:46)

4. Evolution of XP: From practices to people (00:08:22)

5. 3X Model: Managing risk through software evolution (00:12:19)

6. TCR, Limbo & the future of software development (00:25:41)

7. The importance of psychological safety for high-performing teams (00:34:06)

8. Outro (00:40:09)