SMP Tool - Create a Software Management Plan That Fits Your Project

Make your software harder, better, faster, stronger—by employing the right software best practices. But which ones? Writing a Software Management Plan (SMP) helps you figure that out. It encourages you to think about what your software needs to be sustainable and effective in the long run—and it’s increasingly required by funding agencies. While Data Management Plans are now standard, SMPs are still emerging. Templates exist, but they vary widely and often lack context. To address this, we developed the SMP Tool (https://smp.research.software) as part of the TDCC-NES project Best Practices for Sustainable Software in Natural Science and Engineering (SS-NES). This free, open-source, web-based tool guides you through creating a tailored SMP by asking questions about your project—whether it’s a small script or a large framework. Based on your answers, it recommends relevant best practices, resources, and examples.