Small Releases

XP specifies that the software be built in small releases. This cuts two ways. First, we want to release software as early as possible because it gives us the fastest possible return on investment. Second, we want to give our customers as much vision into the project as possible so that they'll grow in confidence and they'll learn by seeing what they're getting. Small releases reduce risk by making issues visible sooner, and they give the team a sense of accomplishment.

Are Small Releases Essential?

Perhaps not projects have survived without them. However, if you'll do the math on your return on investment, you'll see that the value of small releases is surprisingly high. Without small releases, you'll be less certain about what you are doing, how well users will like the software, and how well it works. Small releases are quite important because they provide valuable feedback.