Hexagonal Architecture full-day

From business decisions to architecture: enabling incremental growth end to end

This full-day workshop combines Incremental Development, including the infamous "Elephant Carpaccio" exercise, and Hexagonal Architecture or Ports & Adapters into one coherent learning experience, because many organisations struggle -- not because they lack ideas or technical skill -- but because initiatives grow too large, too complex, and too rigid before real learning can occur.

In the morning, learn how to slice initiatives into very small, valuable increments that reduce risk, generate early feedback, and support better decision-making. These slices are generated for purely business reasons. Come learn not only how, but more importantly, why to to work in fine-grained increments. 

In the afternoon, come to understand Hexagonal Architecture in your organization by building a small application using Hexagonal Architecture. Experience how architecture can actively support incremental development instead of constraining it.

The workshop deliberately connects business thinking and technical design. Decisions and learning come first; architecture follows as an enabler. Participants experience how fine-grained delivery, testing, and architecture reinforce each other when done deliberately.

Additionally, we are learning that the way to keep AI/LLMs in check is by using exactly these techniques: very fine-grained incremental development with Hexagonal Architecture.

Who is this training for?

This full-day workshop is designed primarily for technical participants,

• mid-level programmers
• senior developers
• software architects

who want to influence the journey from business decisions to architecture and delivery, and use the ultra-fine-grained incremental development techniques and architecture needed to keep LLMs on track.

What will you learn in this training?

• why early and staged delivery reduces risk and accelerates learning
• how to slice initiatives into very small, value-focused increments
• how incremental development improves decision-making around scope, timing, and investment
• how business goals translate into technical design choices
• how Hexagonal (Ports & Adapters) Architecture separates core logic from external systems
• how architecture can support testability, flexibility, and long-term change
• how to grow systems incrementally through micro-sliced development
• how acceptance-test-first development supports architectural clarity
• how business and technical roles collaborate more effectively across the full lifecycle

Although it is recommended to attend both halves of the day to get maximum benefit, you can attend just the morning (if you are a non-programmer), or just the afternoon (if you already know how to do ATDD and fine-grained incremental programming). 

Note: This class is being taught in collaboration with and at TechTalk Vienna. Book on their registration page or here, as you prefer:

Register for the full-day!

Register for just the morning (non-programmers).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Bio of the instructor:

Dr. Alistair Cockburn (pronounced CO-BURN) was named as one of the “42 Greatest Software Professionals of All Times“ in 2020, as a world expert on methodologies, project management, software architecture, use cases and agile development. He co-authored both the Agile Manifesto and the Project Management Declaration of Inter-dependence. Since 2015 he has been working on expanding agile to cover every kind of initiative, including social impact project, governments, and families.

Alistair's "Hexagonal Tour", May 2026

• Copenhagen, May 13: Half-day Elephant Carpaccio, Full-day Hexagonal Architecture
• Vienna, May 18: Half-day Elephant Carpaccio, Full-day Hexagonal Architecture
• Vienna, May 21-22: Two-day Heart of Agile
• Utrecht NL, May 29: Half-day Elephant Carpaccio, Full-day Hexagonal Architecture
• The full tour content