My Agile Stack
After 18 relentless months of pouring myself into my first and largest project, I hit a wall. Not because of a lack of effort or capability, but because I underestimated the importance of structure, planning, and methodology. I dove headfirst into solving a problem that demanded not just a developer, but a strategist. That misalignment cost me time, energy, and momentum.
Now, as I rise from that pitfall, I'm not just aiming to recover — I'm rebuilding, smarter. This time, with Agile as my compass.
What is Agile?
Agile isn't just a methodology. It's a mindset — a dynamic, resilient, and adaptive approach to solving real-world problems in a world that's constantly shifting. Where traditional methods demand perfection upfront, Agile embraces iteration, feedback, and continuous improvement.
It breaks down complexity into clarity. Big goals into actionable steps. Dreams into deliverables.
At its core, Agile revolves around six fundamental phases:
Plan → Design → Develop → Test → Deploy → Review
Each cycle is a sprint — short, focused, feedback-driven loops that get you closer to a working, evolving product. It's not about chasing perfection — it's about building something functional, learning from it, and making it better.
Applying Agile (The Stack I Now Follow)
🧠 Plan
This is where the seed is planted. It's not just about what to build — it's about understanding why.
- Problem Statement: What gap are we solving?
- Requirements: Functional and non-functional — the full scope.
- Objectives: Define success.
- Architecture: Choose your tools and systems wisely.
- Design Decisions: Why X over Y? Rationalize it.
- Testing Plan: Prepare to validate from day one.
- Error Handling: Expect failure. Handle it with grace.
- Algorithms and Logic: Identify the core mechanics early.
- User Flow & Stories: Understand the user's journey and build empathy into every feature.
- Resource Estimation: Budget time, people, energy.
- Prioritization: Not everything is urgent. Not everything is important.
✏️ Design
Where the abstract takes form. From whiteboard sketches to Figma files — this is about storytelling through structure and visuals.
Figma
- Sketches → Low-Fi → High-Fi → Prototype
Design should evolve with clarity. Let the idea breathe and grow.
Postman
- API Directory & Request Collections
- Documentation
APIs are contracts. Clarity here ensures smooth communication between frontend, backend, and third-party services.
Code
- Interfaces / Types / Models
- Schemas / DTOs
This is where the real groundwork is laid. Think of it as defining the rules of your universe.
💻 Develop
Time to bring it all to life.
- Frontend: Build interfaces that respect the user's intent.
- Backend: Architect systems that scale and don't crumble under load.
- Integrations: Talk to other systems like a good diplomat — clearly and reliably.
🧪 Test
Testing is not an afterthought. It's your safety net, your feedback loop, and your reputation's insurance policy.
- Unit Tests: Each function should behave as expected.
- E2E Tests: The whole system should flow as designed.
- Edge Cases: Expect the unexpected — simulate chaos.
🚀 Deploy
This is where dev meets the real world.
- CI/CD Pipelines: Automate everything. Let the machine work for you.
- Preview Builds: Test in production-like environments before going live.
- Monitoring & Logs: Stay alert. Measure. React fast.
🔁 Review
Before we repeat the cycle, we pause and reflect.
- Internal Feedback: From the team — the builders.
- Stakeholder Feedback: From the visionaries.
- User Feedback: From those who matter most.
This is how we learn. This is how we adapt. This is how we grow.
🎯 Final Thoughts
What I've built now isn't just an Agile stack — it's a resilient mindset. A blueprint I return to whenever I lose direction.
This journey taught me that a project doesn't fail because of a lack of skill — it often fails from a lack of structure, clarity, and rhythm. Agile gives me that rhythm.
So here's to building better.
To building wiser.
To building together, iteratively, and intentionally.