There is actually open source and free PLC software?
When it comes to PLC programming software, Codesys is certainly well-known, but there is more to learning industrial automation than just this one! The following two open source PLC software can help you start your automation journey at a low cost:
Beremiz: Flexible & Powerful, Geared Towards Complex Automation & Integration
Core Positioning: A complete, IEC 61131-3 standards-compliant Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for machine automation, emphasizing flexibility and protocol support.
Key Components:
IDE (Beremiz.py): Runs on the user's computer, supporting all five IEC 61131-3 programming languages. Its unique feature is using the MatIEC compiler to translate programs into C code, which is then compiled into machine code for the target platform using the standard GCC toolchain, enabling true cross-hardware-platform deployment.
Runtime (Beremiz_service.py): Implemented in Python or C, responsible for executing the compiled program and handling I/O communication. Supports Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Standout Advantages:
Robust Industrial Protocol Integration: Natively supports key industrial bus/communication protocols like Modbus, EtherCAT, CANopen, OPC UA, facilitating integration with various devices and upper-level systems.
Built-in HMI Development Tool (SVGUI): Allows designing and building Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) directly within the IDE using SVG vector graphics, simplifying the visualization development process.
Deep Hardware Adaptation Potential: The C code compilation characteristic enables efficient operation on resource-constrained embedded platforms (e.g., ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers) and also supports more powerful systems.
Ideal Use Cases: Machine automation, systems requiring complex control logic, projects needing multi-protocol integration, teaching and research (especially combining compiler principles with real-time control), development of customized industrial controllers.
Official Website: https://beremiz.org/
OpenPLC: Lightweight & Versatile, King of Hardware Compatibility
Core Positioning: The first fully open-source (software + hardware reference) and IEC 61131-3 standards-compliant full-featured PLC solution.
Key Components:
Runtime: The core execution engine, extremely resource-efficient, perfectly suited for embedded devices and IoT edge nodes.
Editor: Intuitive and easy to use, supports all five IEC languages: Ladder Diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Instruction List (IL), Structured Text (ST), and Sequential Function Chart
(SFC).HMI/SCADA Integration: Seamlessly integrates by default with the powerful open-source SCADA system ScadaBR (via Modbus/TCP communication), enabling convenient web-based monitoring.
Standout Advantages:
Extremely Wide Hardware Support: Ranges from entry-level Arduino (Uno, Nano, Mega), ESP8266/ESP32, to Raspberry Pi (RPi 2/3/4), industrial-grade platforms like Controllino, UniPi, Neuron PLC, and even Windows/Linux soft PLCs – covering almost everything!
Ideal for Security Research: Due to its open-source nature and industrial protocol implementations, it is widely used for learning, testing, and attack/defense drills in Industrial Control System (ICS) cybersecurity.
Ideal Use Cases: Home automation, small SCADA systems, low-cost industrial control prototypes, IoT edge control, ICS security experimentation platforms.
Official Website: https://autonomylogic.com/
Beilai Technology has successfully integrated OpenPLC in ARMxy industrial computers. It has been adapted to almost all X-boards and Y-boards of the current armxy series. There are many types of selections, and the boards in the same environment can be selected and flexibly applied to different project application scenarios. In addition, with the BLRAT remote software provided by Beilai Technology, the code can be uploaded remotely to update the PLC program, and the operation of the PLC, the coil state, and the coil power-on and power-off operations can be remotely monitored. https://www.youtube.com/embed/38kt0EfI8wM?si=tEGhyGcn7pEwDw8A
