The evolution of Agile software development emerged as a response to the limitations of the waterfall method, which was characterized by its rigidity and extensive documentation that stifled innovation and adaptability. Agile methodologies advocate for embracing change by breaking projects into smaller, manageable chunks and focusing on collaboration, flexibility, and rapid feedback. Precursors to Agile, such as Rapid Application Development (RAD) and the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), sought to improve workflows by prioritizing speed and adaptability over exhaustive planning. Scrum and Extreme Programming (XP) further refined these ideas by emphasizing empirical process control, iterative development, and practices like sprints and pair programming. The Agile Manifesto, created in 2001 by a group of developers, consolidated the best practices from various methodologies, emphasizing values such as individuals and interactions over processes and tools, and responding to change over following a plan. Agile is not a rigid framework but rather a set of guiding principles aimed at helping software teams make practical, timely decisions, ultimately transforming software development from a manufacturing process to a creative, adaptable craft.