The Rise of Open Programming Languages in Industrial Applications
The industrial environment is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of open programming languages. These languages, which are developed and maintained by a community of users, have become the foundation of modern industrial applications. This article explores the reasons behind this shift and the implications of this trend.
The Shift to Openness
Earlier, manufacturing applications were created with restricted programming languages owned by developers. However, the last decade has seen a shift towards open programming languages such as Python, C++, and JavaScript in industrial applications. This shift is driven by the need for more efficient, adaptive, and cost-effective IT solutions due to constantly changing technologies and market conditions.
Why Open Programming Languages?
Open programming languages offer several advantages over their proprietary counterparts. They have large and active communities that contribute to their development, provide support, and produce many useful resources collectively. They are also cost-effective, as they eliminate licensing costs, and offer flexibility and innovation, as their development is not static. Additionally, they conform to industry standards, making them compatible with most existing hardware and software.
Industrial Applications and Open Languages
The industrial sector has embraced open programming languages for various applications. In robotics, Python and C++ are widely used due to their performance and extensive libraries. The Robot Operating System (ROS) is also an open-source framework that has become standard in robotic software development. Open languages bring advantages in building complicated automation systems because of their strong supporting tools and program libraries in control and communication. They are also associated with data science and machine learning due to their high data processing features.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the benefits, the adoption of open programming languages in industrial applications is not without challenges. They can be insecure if the security of such code is not managed properly, allowing potential threats to get in. Some open languages may not perform as well as specialized proprietary languages, especially in areas that require real-time solutions or limited resources. Additionally, the openness of these languages can lead to fragmentation and compatibility problems if standardization is not followed.
Production Environments and Open Programming Languages of the Future
In the future, there will be a maintained increase in the number of open programming languages used in industrial applications. The need for integration, internal and external pressures of globalization, technological advancements, competition, and the need to incorporate data analysis and machine learning into their operations will further cement their place in the industrial environment.
Conclusion
Open programming languages in industrial applications are a significant change towards collaborative and inexpensive innovative industrial software. While there are some problems that still need to be solved, the advantages of openness, such as community support, flexibility, and compatibility, have become the main engine for development.
Industry 4.0
Robotics
Automation
Data Analysis
Machine Learning
Internet of Things
