The low-coding trend is making its way into automation.
No extensive programming knowledge required anymore.
Visual elements are replacing classic code.
With the ctrlX AUTOMATION - IDE app we won the automation app award 2023.
IDE is an abbreviation and stands for Integrated Development Environment. The IDE app provides various development environments (coding, debugging, etc.), which can be used to create program sequences for ctrlX OS.
Currently the IDE app is available in two versions:
Textual Coding represents a web-based development environment (code editor, console, debugging, etc.) with native ctrlX CORE connectivity. It can be used to create Python scripts or edit files in the active solution.
Visual Coding provides a programming framework (code editor, debugger, project management, configuration, etc.) for creating programs based on visual elements, Python and JavaScript. The active editor language can be switched at any time, so that collaborative work is possible.
Textual Coding - Browser based IDE
The IDE app runs directly on the control hardware and is operated via web browser. No development environment on an engineering PC is required.
Visual Coding - Block View
The advantage of Visual Coding corresponds to the key advantage of Low Code: the fast and agile development of programs. There is no need to write lines of code manually. The programmer does not have to deal with the specifics of the programming language, such as syntax, but intuitively uses predefined program elements, e.g. for variable handling, program loops, control instructions or motion commands. By assembling the building blocks via drag & drop and their parameterization, the program flow is successively created. The actual program code in Python or JavaScript is created automatically in the background.
Visual Coding - Debugging
Visual Coding - Python View
Latest features in version 0118.37
- Compatible with base system version 1.20
- Motion Block Units: Support of units and weighting type of axes and kinematics
- Motion Blending Scope: The "Blending Scope" block can be used to specify the "blending" strategy for a defined number of commands
- Persistence Extension: Connection to the ctrlX AUTOMATION - Key Value Database app to persist variables
- Tools Extension: Timing blocks for runtime measurement and creation of time stamps
- Server Extension: Ability to host ctrlX Data Layer nodes internally at IDE script runtime
Prerequisite
Support
Related Links
- Documentation and Release Notes (EN and DE)
- How-to "Graphical and Textual Python Programming for Pick and Place using IDE App"
- YouTube Video "ctrlX DevelopR - Use Graphical Programming for Pick & Place"
- YouTube Video "ctrlX CORE with IDE app"
- YouTube Video "Easy web-based programming with Smart Function Kit"
