OpenMDAO is an open-source high-performance computing platform for systems analysis and multidisciplinary optimization written in the Python programming language.

The OpenMDAO framework is designed to aid in linking together separate pieces of software for the purpose of combined analyses.

OpenMDAO is specifically designed to manage the dataflow (the actual data) and the workflow (what code is run when) in conjunction with optimization algorithms and other advanced solution techniques.

NASA’s motivation in supporting the OpenMDAO project stems from the demands of unconventional aircraft concepts like Turbo-Electric distributed propulsion.

OpenMDAO also includes a web-browser-based graphical user interface (GUI) for visual construction, execution, and optimization of models.