Platform Showdown: Rockwell vs Emerson

[Epy]

I always laugh at people who talk like they understand computer programming as opposed to PLC programming, but don't.

Seriously though, hasty generalization. Just because some people suck at doing the "custom" solutions doesn't mean that they'll all suck. Just because every new version of Windows breaks every program doesn't mean that all computer software and all OSes suck.

SJ already said he was going to use a *nix OS, all he has to do is follow standards, i.e. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POSIX

 

[JRW]

You'll see. Get some experience under your belt
I've been to many end users ....

 

[Epy]

Pfft. If anything, I've seen the complete opposite. I've been across numerous RSLogix 500 and 5000 projects that are undocumented, obfuscated piles of ****. True testaments to a lack of understanding of basic programming concepts. I've seen some really good stuff though too. The larger oil companies are pretty good about creating their own standard libraries and religiously re-using them.

The lesson here is that it's the programmer, not the platform. A crappy PLC programmer can make a steaming pile just as easily as a crappy computer programmer.

I don't see how anyone can talk **** about custom solutions as if they're much less maintainable. Can anyone here tell me with a straight face that all of your PLC software works on modern Windows (8, 8.1, 10)? Everyone here is using VMs because of how entirely ****ty PLC software is.

I write software everyday that can be run on anything from Linux to XP to OS X to Win10. Top that, any PLC manufacturer.

 

[JRW]

Sure young man. How about windows 3.1?
Or DOS 3.0?
Heard of those?
Run your apps on that..

 

[Dirt]

Edit: Never mind.

 

[AustralIan]

I am interested to find out what you decide in the end.

 

[cardosocea]

I don't see how anyone can talk **** about custom solutions as if they're much less maintainable. Can anyone here tell me with a straight face that all of your PLC software works on modern Windows (8, 8.1, 10)? Everyone here is using VMs because of how entirely ****ty PLC software is.

You are being disingenuous here... With the track record of Microsoft's **** operating Systems would you sink millions into porting your platform to a new OS only to find that MS dropped the ball and you now have a ton of support to give your new customers?
Some of the VM's most guys keep are running Windows XP... partly because the actual software itself stopped being supported on new OS's. Again, Microsoft moved stuff around and since the software is outdated the solution if moving to an upgrade... except this is at the will of the customers.

It is also worth reminding that VM's are used because PC's that spend time in the field have the habit of being dropped... no one likes to go through a day of reinstalling software.
Some of this software will slow down the PC for administrative purposes, running it on a VM separates it from the standalone PC making it faster.

I write software everyday that can be run on anything from Linux to XP to OS X to Win10. Top that, any PLC manufacturer.

Sorry, but I call ******** on this for a few reasons:

Not even Java which is supposed to be platform agnostic allows you to move code willy nilly between platforms. Python may be a bit better...

None of the languages that you can port easily (not copy paste, mind you), are actually any good in terms of real time behaviour. Sure, you can program smart functionality for data analysis on it and other stuff, but you won't get the same response out of it as a PLC would.

The PLC manufacturers don't need to top your knowledge of Operating Systems... because that is not their business. However, your PC manufacturers sure do need to top the longevity of PLC systems. Can they do that?