Unlocking Industrial Automation with Open-Source Software

Open-source platforms are reshaping industrial automation—offering powerful, flexible, and community-driven alternatives to traditional proprietary systems. Whether you're modernizing a factory floor, launching an IIoT pilot, or building your own SCADA stack, these tools can kickstart your journey without locking you in.

Unlocking Industrial Automation with Open-Source Software

Unlocking Industrial Automation with Open-Source Software

Open-source tools are changing how industrial automation systems are built. Instead of relying only on proprietary platforms, teams can now assemble flexible, production-grade stacks using community-driven software.

Whether you're upgrading a factory floor, testing an IIoT use case, or building a custom SCADA setup, these tools give you control without vendor lock-in.

PLC & Control Systems

OpenPLC

What it is: An IEC 61131-3 compliant soft PLC that runs on Windows, Linux, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi.
Features: Supports Ladder Logic, FBD, ST, IL, and SFC. Includes a web interface and works well in Docker environments.
License: GPLv3 (runtime LGPL)
Website: autonomylogic.com/docs/openplc-overview

Beremiz

What it is: An IEC 61131 IDE with runtime, HMI support, and scripting capabilities.
Features: Modbus integration, custom Python blocks, remote monitoring.
License: GPL (IDE), LGPL (runtime)
Website: beremiz.org

ProviewR

What it is: A full process control system for Linux.
Features: Historian, HMI, logic control, and soft PLC runtime.
License: GPLv2
Website: proviewr.se

SCADA & HMI Platforms

Rapid SCADA

What it is: A modular SCADA framework.
Features: Web interface, alarm handling, historian, role-based access control.
License: MIT
Website: rapidscada.org

PvBrowser

What it is: A graphical SCADA/HMI builder with runtime environment.
Features: Drag-and-drop editor, cross-platform support, Modbus TCP/UDP.
License: GPLv3
Website: pvbrowser.de

Lintouch

What it is: A lightweight embedded HMI system.
Features: Small footprint (around 32 MB), Modbus support, GUI editor.
License: GPLv2
Website: Wikipedia page

EnergoSCADA

What it is: An energy-oriented SCADA system with open-source variants.
Features: MySQL logging, alarm scripting, user access control.
License: Mixed; some forks are open source
Website: Wikipedia page

Robotics & Middleware

ROS-Industrial

What it is: An industrial extension of ROS for factory automation and manipulators.
Features: Hardware drivers, motion planning, calibration tools, device integration.
License: Apache 2.0
Website: rosindustrial.org

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OPC UA & IIoT Connectivity

open62541

What it is: An open-source OPC UA stack written in C.
Features: Client and server support, real-time capable, TSN-ready.
License: MPL 2.0
Website: github.com/open62541/open62541

Flow-Based Programming

Node-RED

What it is: A browser-based low-code tool for connecting devices and services.
Features: Modbus, MQTT, and OPC UA nodes, plus dashboard tools.
License: Apache 2.0
Website: flows.nodered.org

Next steps

Start small. Spin up a test environment or Docker container and explore how these tools behave in your context. From there, extend with plugins or custom logic where needed. When you're ready, harden security, scale the system, and integrate it with your existing infrastructure.

Open-source automation isn’t just about reducing license fees. It gives you visibility into the stack and freedom to adapt it.

If you’re evaluating options or planning an automation project, we can help you design and deploy a setup that fits your technical and operational constraints. Reach out by email or schedule a meeting to discuss your use case.