GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech Evolution in Software: What Has Changed Since GOOS? • Nat Pryce & Duncan McGregor
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Jul 22, 2025 
Nat Pryce and Duncan McGregor, both renowned authors and experts in software development, share their insights on the evolution of software practices over the past 15 years. They discuss the origins of test-driven development at the Extreme Tuesday Club, and the shift from object-oriented to functional programming. Key topics include testing strategies using mock objects, the rise of microservices, and the impact of modern development tools. Their conversation explores whether contemporary practices have genuinely enhanced productivity.
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Extreme Tuesday Club Origins
- The Extreme Tuesday Club was a London meetup for developers passionate about extreme programming, fostering shared learning and development techniques.
- Their collaborative efforts led to many practices, including the approach detailed in the book "Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests" (GOOS).
Agile's Evolution Away From Developers
- Agile initially was holistic, emphasizing collaboration between developers and stakeholders and a shared enterprise.
- Over time, Agile shifted to focus more on management processes, losing much focus on actual software writing practices.
XP Teams' Deep Domain Knowledge
- In strong XP projects, developers often had deep domain knowledge, removing the constant need to consult separate product owners.
- This close business insight enabled fluid collaboration and rapid iterative development within teams.
