standup

Standup, or stand-up, is a term used to refer to two distinct practices in contemporary culture and work environments: stand-up comedy and stand-up meetings in agile development.

Stand-up comedy is a performance discipline in which a comedian performs solo on stage, delivering a authored routine of jokes and stories to an audience. Material is often observational or satirical, with emphasis on timing, delivery, and audience interaction. The form traces its modern development to late 19th and early 20th century vaudeville and music hall traditions, with later evolution through clubs, television, and streaming platforms. Stand-up routines vary in length and structure, and comedians may build recurring personas, setups, and callbacks. Performances are typically presented in dedicated venues such as clubs and theaters, though stand-up specials and appearances on television or online platforms have broadened reach.

A stand-up meeting, commonly called a stand-up or daily stand-up, is a short, time-boxed gathering used in Agile and other project-management approaches. Team members report progress, plans, and blockers to improve coordination and transparency. The meeting is usually held standing to encourage brevity and is commonly scheduled each workday for about 10 to 15 minutes. Typical practice involves answering brief questions such as what was completed since the last meeting, what will be worked on next, and whether any obstacles exist; teams may use a task board or backlog to structure the discussion and track dependencies.

While the two uses share the name, they operate in different domains and have distinct communities. The spelling and emphasis can vary, with stand-up or standup used interchangeably in some contexts.