OpenUP is a process framework for software development, in other words a framework that you can extend to define your own software development methodology. It is part of the IBM Rational Unified Process (RUP) family, but has been donated to the open source community as part of the Eclipse Process Framework (EPF). OpenUP builds on the accumulated experience of the RUP family.

What I like about OpenUP is that is provides a minimal yet complete instance of process, namely OpenUP/Basic. Moreover, EPF itself is an Eclipse application that allows configuring and ultimately publishing a professional-level website describing the process (which is exactly how OpenUP/Basic has been configured and how its website has been generated).

No need to say, OpenUP is agile (read my previous post What is Agile after all?) in the way it leverages the agile principles. Although it has not been mentioned in these words by IBM, I suspect OpenUP is the result of making RUP agile. Indeed, while IBM RUP has been praised as rigorous and extensive, it has also been criticized has lacking the flexibility and low-ceremony required for smaller projects / organizations. Some IBM RUP aficionados claim that RUP can be configured as agile as we want, well, I believe them, the result is OpenUP! OpenUP is also an effort by IBM to enter SMBs through the side door, hoping that they will later upgrade to their proprietary (and relatively expensive) products.

I am currently coaching the implementation of OpenUP for one of my clients. Stay tuned for a more detailed feedback on this promising development process.