Iterative and Evolutionary Development, a UP Practice
A key practice in both the UP and most other modern methods is iterative development. In this lifecycle approach, development is organized into a series of short, fixed-length (for example, three-week) mini-projects called iterations; the outcome of each is a tested, integrated, and executable partial system. Each iteration includes its own requirements analysis, design, implementation, and testing activities.
The iterative lifecycle is based on the successive enlargement and refinement of a system through multiple iterations, with cyclic feedback and adaptation as core drivers to converge upon a suitable system. The system grows incrementally over time, iteration by iteration, and thus this approach is also known as iterative and incremental development. Because feedback and adaptation evolve the specifications and design, it is also known as iterative and evolutionary development.