Essential Project Background FAQs

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jason.powell
Posts: 32
Joined: 04 Feb 2009, 15:01

Is it really free of charge?
Yes, there are no hidden extras or subscription charges. The tool is free to download and use indefinitely.

What’s the catch?
There is no catch, this is a truly open source product in both monetary and philosophical terms, free to use and free for you to update and share.

Who are the people behind the Essential Project?
Enterprise Architecture Solutions (EAS), a specialized Enterprise Architecture consultancy established in 2000, were the original developers of the Essential Project tools. EAS has broad experience of developing and managing enterprise operating models and related strategies for large-scale, global organisations across a variety of industries.

The Essential Project tools were initially developed to help EAS consultants to manage and analyse the architecture information needed to meet the objectives of a client engagement (e.g. current state architecture review, IT strategy development, SOA strategy).
However, over time, as the tools matured, EAS realised that clients would benefit greatly if project outputs were delivered using these same tools. By leaving clients with deliverables in the form of an extensible knowledge repository and a series of customisable reports (as opposed to the rather limited format of documents and spreadsheets), EAS were able to provide material that could be re-used or extended to deliver long-term value.

Releasing these tools as a commercial offering was once considered, however, EAS is a consultancy firm with no desire to become a software business and so it was decided to release the tools as open source.

Who is this product aimed at?
The Essential Project tools have been developed by architects, for architects. It is a toolkit that has been designed to provide the basic facilities that are necessary (i.e. ‘essential’) for maintaining and reporting on enterprise architecture knowledge (current and future states). In addition, the tools are proven in their ability to support a wide variety of architecture management scenarios (e.g. application portfolio management, technology rationalisation programmes, business restructuring, SOA strategy implementation, master data strategy management).

As such, the tools provided by the Essential Project can be used by individuals looking to address a specific requirement, or by architecture teams as the foundation for broad enterprise architecture initiatives. In either case, The Essential Project tools can be used as a stepping-stone to a commercial tool, as it allows organizations to construct and gain benefit from enterprise architecture quickly and efficiently, with no up-front or on-going fees. If, after the effectiveness of enterprise architecture has been proven, and an organization wishes to move to a commercial tool, then this is entirely possible, as data can be easily exported from the repository in a simple XML format.

Of course, it is certainly possible for an organisation to continue using Essential, as it is a robust tool that has been used in earnest in large organizations.

How do you provide support?
As with most open source products, free support can be provided from other members of the project via the Essential Project Forum. Alternatively EAS can provide professional consulting services and, in time, a list of accredited consultancies will be made available.

How will the Essential Project tools be updated and maintained?
EAS will ensure that the Essential Project tools are upgraded to meet new requirements or changes to underlying technologies (e.g. Java, Protégé). In addition, functional enhancements (e.g. additional custom reports) will be provided via the Essential Project community pages.
Essential Project Team
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