The XP Conference, the premier international event on agile software development, was held for the first time in Switzerland, bringing the global agile community together at the modern FHNW campus in Brugg‑Windisch. XP started 26 years ago with a focus on eXtreme Programming. Since then, it has expanded to cover all modern agile methodologies. Today, XP is a lively platform where researchers, practitioners, coaches, trainers, and thought leaders meet to exchange the latest ideas and innovations.

T-Shirt backprint with every XP location of the last 25 years

The theme of this year’s conference, “Adapt – Uncovering better ways to deliver valuable software products”, resonated deeply with contemporary challenges in software development—especially leveraging emerging technologies like AI, navigating hybrid and distributed work, deepening technical coaching, and enhancing risk management.

Over four days, attendees explored a rich agenda featuring immersive full-day and half-day workshops, most notably “AI and Agile Software Development: From Frustration to Success”, alongside keynote talks, experience reports, research papers, and an interactive Open Space session.

What moves the XP community?

To better understand the XP community, we conducted a short survey at our booth. Here are some key takeaways from the responses:

Community counts

Over half of all participants said their primary motivation for attending XP 2025 was to connect with peers, ahead of professional development or interest in specific topics.

Agile in practice is pragmatic

Most teams don’t follow one agile method rigidly. Instead, 63% say they adapt frameworks to their context, blending practices from Scrum, Kanban, XP, and others.

Survey Result 1: How strictly do you follow the chosen framework?

XP practices are selectively applied

While concepts like Continuous Integration and Pair Programming have traction, many teams still only partially apply XP ideas - pointing to an opportunity for deeper technical coaching.

Survey Result 2: Which of the following XP practices do you actively apply?

Team roles are fluid

58% of respondents reported flexible role definitions, with many teams working without formally assigned roles.

Survey Result 3: How do formal roles relate to actual team dynamics?

The biggest pain points?

Teams struggle most with technical debt, communication, and quality assurance - a reminder that agility alone doesn’t solve core engineering challenges.

Survey Result 4: What is your biggest challenge in software development currently?

Top development needs

Communication and testing were mentioned most often as areas needing improvement, followed by documentation and technical excellence.

Survey Result 5: In which areas do you currently see the greatest need for development in your team?

And if they could change one thing?

Many wished for more technical depth, less rigid dogma, and a stronger bridge between research and real-world development.

Our Take-Aways

We really had fun being at the XP Conference 2025 with our own booth. There was lots of time for socializing und insightful discussions. During these, our impression from real-world projects was confirmed: Agile is alive and evolving, but it’s also under pressure to deliver real value in complex, hybrid environments. Community, adaptability, and technical depth matter more than rigid processes.

Do you want to deepen your agile practice through coaching, workshops, or technical enablement—our experts are happy to share what works. Just reach out!