Agilistas... Movers perhaps, but definitely "shakers".

There's an olde Shaker tune called Simple Gifts that Aaron Copland immortalized in his score for the ballet Appalachian Spring. It's been covered by many people including Judy Collins and Jewel, but I heard it on television this morning and was struck by how it captures the spirit of what I have been advocating for the last 10 years (agile software development).

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,

'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,

And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,

Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

(refrain)

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,

'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",

And when we hear what others really think and really feel,

Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

For over ten years, I've felt what it's like to receive a gift of simplicity from other programmers, and the freedom of collaborating with the open-source community. I've found a "place" for myself that feels just right, the deligh

t of turning, turning out code every week.

I've seen Kent Beck silence a noisy conference room by uttering that most powerful of all words ("love") to summarize what agile development is about.

I'm grateful for the friends I've learned from and taught while pair programming, and those seek to understand what users, stakeholders, and their fellow developers think and feel.

To those who made my career more meaningful: This song's for you.