PlatformPLC is a universal, open-source framework designed to bring PLC engineering into the modern software development era. It allows engineers to design hardware-agnostic logic within VS Code, leveraging professional software engineering tools such as Git and Language Servers.
Vision
Industrial automation has long been confined to heavy, proprietary vendor software. PlatformPLC acts as an Abstraction Layer above industrial standards. Write your code once in a modern IDE and deploy it to various hardware platforms, including Siemens S7 and Allen Bradley Logix.
Architecture
The system is built on a three-tier model to ensure modularity and scalability:
The Core (C# .NET): The central intelligence of the platform. It hosts the Language Server Protocol (LSP), the Code Formatter, and the Sync Engine.
Vendor Adapters: Modular drivers that translate neutral logic into hardware-specific formats:
- Siemens Adapter: Interfaces with TIA Portal Openness API for block injection and project management.
- Rockwell Adapter: Utilizes the Logix Designer SDK and manipulates L5X (XML) files for Studio 5000 integration.
VS Code Extension: A lightweight frontend that manages the connection to the Core and hosts visual editors (SFC/LAD) via Webviews.
Core Features
1. Universal Language Server (LSP)
PlatformPLC provides full IDE intelligence for SCL (Siemens) and ST (Allen Bradley):
- Auto-complete: Suggestions based on live or cached Tag tables and UDT structures.
- Go-to-Definition: Instant navigation from a block call to its source definition.
- Real-time Diagnostics: Syntax validation powered by an ANTLR4-based C# parser.
2. Visual Logic Designers (SFC & LAD)
Design graphical logic directly within VS Code:
- SFC Editor: A visual tool for designing sequences that are transpiled into optimized SCL/ST
CASE structures.
- LAD Editor: A graphical interface for Ladder Diagramming, utilizing the C# Core for network validation and XML generation.
3. Git-Centric Workflow
Move away from comparing binary project files. PlatformPLC exports every block, tag table, and UDT as a plain text file.
- Perform granular code reviews with
git diff.
- Enable multi-user collaboration without merge conflicts in proprietary databases.
Installation
Search for "PlatformPLC" in the VS Code Marketplace or install it via the command line:
code --install-extension platformplc.extension
