The Rational Unified Process (RUP) is a framework for best practices of software engineering. Iterations, simplicity, focus on value and regular feedback underlie the best practices. With RUP as the starting point, the approach has been adapted to different domains.
The seven best practices adopted by 1997 are:
* Develop iteratively, with risk as the primary iteration driver
* Manage requirements
* Employ a component-based architecture
* Model software visually
* Continuously verify quality
* Control changes
* Customization
A commercial product sought to faciliate adoption of RUP by offering components that offered:
* a tailorable process for development
* tools to automate the process implementation
* services to support the processes and tools
Each of the RUP elements are discussed in more detail at the RUP Process article.
