Forge Studio

The Workbench

Forge Studio is the integrated development environment of the ForgeIEC platform. This is where the PLC program is created — from the first draft to the finished project. Like the workbench in a forge, Forge Studio keeps all tools within reach: editor, compiler, debugger, and bus system configuration in a single application.

All Five IEC 61131-3 Languages

One editor for all languages — seamless switching, shared variables, unified project structure:

• Structured Text (ST) — High-level language with syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and Tree-sitter-based parsing
• Instruction List (IL) — Assembly-like language with intelligent editing and language switching to/from ST
• Function Block Diagram (FBD) — Graphical editor with block library and drag-and-drop
• Ladder Diagram (LD) — Familiar representation for switching logic, wired directly on screen
• Sequential Function Chart (SFC) — Step sequence diagrams for sequential control with transitions and actions

Syntax Highlighting with Tree-sitter

Forge Studio uses Tree-sitter for incremental parsing of source code. This means:

• Precise syntax highlighting even with incomplete code
• Structural understanding of the program while typing
• Fast navigation between declarations and references
• No regular expressions — real grammar

Bus System Integration

Bus system management following established IEC-61131-3 IDE conventions is integrated directly into the development environment:

• Segment hierarchy with devices and variables in the project tree
• Automatic IEC address assignment without collisions
• Network scanner for device discovery
• Diff view for changes between editor and runtime system
• Automatic generation of the VAR_ANVIL transport layer

Connection to the Runtime Environment

Forge Studio communicates via gRPC with the Anvil runtime environment:

• Compilation on the workstation — the IEC compiler (iec2c) runs locally, only the generated C code is transferred to the PLC
• Encrypted upload — AES-256-GCM encrypted transfer to the target system
• Live debugging — watch and force variables in real time while the PLC is running
• User management — multi-user operation with permission system and industry-standard first-login workflow

Standard Library

Complete IEC standard library in a SQLite database:

• Counters (CTU, CTD, CTUD)
• Timers (TON, TOF, TP)
• Edge detection blocks (R_TRIG, F_TRIG)
• Bistable elements (SR, RS)
• Type conversions and mathematical functions
• Extensible with user-defined blocks

Technical Specifications