What is iteration?

In Agile development, iteration is a core mechanism involving short, cyclical phases of design, development, testing, and improvement, typically lasting 1 to 4 weeks, which enables rapid feedback and adaptation to changing requirements. Unlike the Waterfall model, which progresses linearly and can lead to significant delays when changes are needed, Agile iterations allow development teams to deliver working software early and continuously improve upon it. While iterations are a component of Agile methodology, they are distinct from sprints, which are another form of development cycle used in Scrum, with iterations being more common in Extreme Programming (XP). XP emphasizes flexibility and communication, promoting values such as simplicity, feedback, courage, and respect, which help teams adapt and grow. Implementing iterations effectively can be enhanced by using automation tools like CircleCI, which streamline development processes and help manage iterations efficiently.