Using agility to build robust, real-time platforms for smart grid software services

The purpose of this paper is to stress how the development of real-time platforms for smart grid software services can be propelled by software agility. The Agile software development methodology promotes simplicity and rapid adaptability to evolving requirements and standards. Integrating software tests systematically from the onset of product development to the final release ensures robustness. The Software Solutions Group within GE Energy adopted software agility to ensure that software service developments are driven by quality. Many steps are involved in the development of a comprehensive real-time software services platform, and it is tempting for stakeholders to over-specify the initial requirements at the expense of a design that addresses how failures are handled. In this paper, the authors describe basic architectures and methodologies in the development of real-time software services to support specific smart-grid business needs.