The RUP: An Iterative Approach with an Adaptable Level of Ceremony

The Rational Unified Process is a customizable process framework that allows users to produce a wide variety of processes, or RUP configurations (described in Chapter 10). These configurations can fit anywhere on the Low Ceremony/High Ceremony scale, depending on project needs. Figure 3.5 shows where different RUP configurations would fit on the process map. The RUP strongly promotes an iterative, risk-driven approach to software development with continuous testing and integration. There is, however, some flexibility along the Waterfall/Iterative axis, and some companies apply the RUP in a waterfall manner ”something we generally advise against.

Figure 3.5. RUP Configurations on the Process Map. The RUP framework allows you to produce a variety of process configurations from very low- to very high-ceremony processes.