Agile development framework

Team foundation Server - Agile Template

Team Foundation Server - Agile Template(Agile Development with Microsoft Solutions Framework, Process Implementation and TFS

At Icreon, we constantly strive to further optimize the software development process. The Microsoft Team Foundation Server (TFS) enables us to introduce features such as work item tracking, version control, team build, data collection and reporting, and project management facilities, all within the Agile development framework.

This simple, yet comprehensive, work flow is mainly attributed to the Agile Template, which automatically configures roles, data collection fields, work items and performs other essential tasks smoothly. The team at Icreon is provided with the complete toolset required to efficiently implement Agile development with Microsoft Solutions Framework.

Every Team Foundation Server contains numerous Visual Studio solutions and configuration files for Team Builds and Team Load Testing Agents. The users of the Team Project define the relevant work items and reports to be managed by the server. Not only does the Team Foundation Server provide capabilities for managing these customized projects, it also includes several agile and formal methodologies as pre-installed templates. At Icreon, we encourage and promote the use of Microsoft Excel to create and track each project.

We train clients to create and edit status sheets in Excel, thereby removing any need for technical know-how. The Team Foundation Server is an incredibly innovative tool for collecting data, controlling versions in a team-based project, reporting and tracking projects. Based on the need of the hour, Icreon utilizes the Team Foundation Server in both its forms, i.e. as a stand-alone software and even as the Server-side platform for Microsoft Visual Studio Team System (VSTS).

The three-tier architecture of the Team Foundation Server has a bit of everything for the clients, the applications as well as the data. The Client Layer of the three-tiers is used to create, and control, projects. The absence of a User Interface is compensated for, by the exposure of web services to the clients. These web services, located in the Application Layer include a document repository as well as a web portal (Windows SharePoint Services). This web portal is the central lobby for all communication related to projects that are being managed by the Team Foundation Server.

The Data Layer is by far the busiest, with roles to play at both the project level as well as for generating reports. A Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition forms the data layer and can exist on an entirely different server, physically or virtually, with each machine running a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 version or above. The Client Layer has no access to the Data Layer and any modifications in the Data Layer are carried out by the Application Layer only.

Process Implementation with TFS is uncomplicated while the Agile Template just hastens the process by enabling efficient creation and tracking of work items. With the increased integration and extensibility that TFS provides, Icreon can handle diverse projects with utmost ease, while providing customers with the key benefits of Agile Development.