Essential Project’s One Year Anniversary
March 02, 2010 07:16 AM Eastern Time
LONDON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--It’s been one year since the launch of The Essential Project, the free,
open source Enterprise Architecture Tool and Community.
There have been almost 3,000 downloads of the tool, with a steady monthly download average of 240. The website
receives over 2,500 visits each month, with visitor analysis suggesting at least 600 organisations using Essential
Architecture Manager in some capacity over an extended time period.
We are delighted with this success and the indication that Essential is making a real contribution to Enterprise
Architects in many organisations, from large global corporations, government agencies and education establishments
to smaller local companies, as evidenced by discussions on the forums and direct communications. This is a real
endorsement of not only the tool, but our free, open source approach.
Our first year has been busy. In response to demand from the community we have issued five updates via our
Essential Community Process, most relating to additional modelling capabilities supporting business strategy and
architecture, giving an indication of where most use is being made of Essential. The updates include Modelling
Organisation Policies and Compliance, Strategy Management and License and Cost Management.
Another exciting development was receiving our first contributions from the Community. We hope these will be the
start of many more contributions as input from the Community grows.
Additionally, Essential Architecture Manager has received some favourable reviews; an Ovum Butler Group
Technology Audit, a review in the Journal of Enterprise Architecture, an inclusion as one of only two open source
tools that effectively support EA in ‘Open Source Solutions for EA Tool Needs’ report, and been the subject of
review by all major analyst firms.
Our aim for next year is to continue to grow the Essential Project community, enhance Essential A