Defining a Distributed Agile Methodology for an Open Source Scenario

In this paper we propose and describe an agile methodology for distributed development (MADD - Methodology for Agile Distributed Development). In particular, it’s illustrated a set of best practices to apply in a distributed and agile context, chosen on the base of their impact software quality and team interoperation. Beyond the proposed methodology, we show the results of a survey that we submitted to various contributors of Open Source projects. The survey has been of support to the definition of the MADD, helping to more understand and estimate if, how and how much agile practices and values are already present in the OS world, that today represents one of the most emblematic examples of distributed development. The MADD methodology will be adopted on a software development project at the University of Cagliari (Italy), by a group of students that will work like an Open Source community.