We are excited to announce our entry into the world of PLC application development with two lightweight yet powerful tools built specifically for industrial automation environments.

As the demand for smarter, more connected edge devices grows, we’re stepping up to deliver efficient and developer-friendly solutions that run directly on programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Today, we’re proud to introduce two new applications designed to bring intelligence, visibility, and connectivity to PLC devices:

These apps mark the beginning of our commitment to empowering industrial systems with modern software tools that are fast, reliable, and ready for the challenges of Industry 4.0.

Why Rust Matters in Industrial Edge Computing

A key pillar of our development strategy is the choice of Rust as the core programming language for the backend of both applications. Rust’s unique combination of high performance, memory safety, and concurrency support makes it ideal for resource-constrained edge devices like PLCs, where reliability and speed are critical. Unlike traditional languages commonly used in industrial software, Rust eliminates entire classes of bugs related to memory management — a frequent cause of crashes or security vulnerabilities. This means our apps run faster, safer, and with less downtime, empowering industrial operators with dependable tools that won’t fail when it matters most. By leveraging Rust, MicroDoc is setting a new standard for robust, high-performance software at the edge — an approach that aligns perfectly with the demanding requirements of Industry 4.0.

Why Edge Applications for PLCs Matter

PLCs are at the heart of industrial automation. But traditional development tools and integration workflows often fall short when it comes to flexibility, transparency, or cloud readiness. In an era where predictive maintenance, real-time analytics, and secure remote diagnostics are becoming the norm, the need for intelligent software at the edge is greater than ever. MicroDoc’s new apps directly address these needs by making it easier to understand, monitor, and connect PLC devices — all with minimal overhead and a modern user experience.

OPC UA Browser for PLC: A Simple Window into Complex Systems

The OPC UA Browser for PLC is a lightweight tool that provides direct access to the OPC UA server running on your PLC device. Built to help engineers and integrators explore the data model of their systems quickly and efficiently, the app features:

  • An intuitive, web-based UI to browse the full OPC UA node tree
  • Real-time access to node details like Node ID, Value, Data Type, and Access Level
  • A responsive interface built with Vue.js
  • A Rust-powered backend ensuring high performance and rock-solid reliability

This tool runs directly on PLCnext devices and can be installed via the PLCnext Store or uploaded manually. Despite its small footprint (under 20MB), it delivers meaningful insights for system diagnostics and development workflows.

Diagnostic Cloud Azure for PLC: From Shop Floor to Cloud

For organizations looking to bridge the gap between on-premise systems and cloud platforms, our Diagnostic Cloud Azure for PLC app offers seamless data transmission from the PLC to Azure Event Hubs. Using OPC UA subscriptions, the app automatically listens for changes in selected variables and pushes real-time updates to Azure — no polling or manual sampling intervals needed.

Key Features:

  • Secure, real-time data transmission from PLC to Azure Event Hubs
  • Efficient data acquisition using OPC UA subscriptions
  • Web-based configuration of both OPC UA connections and cloud targets
  • A Rust backend that delivers reliable, high-performance data handling
  • Easy-to-use UI built with Vue.js

This app empowers use cases such as:

  • Cloud-based monitoring
  • Predictive maintenance data collection
  • Industrial analytics pipelines

Built for Performance, Reliability, and Safety

Both applications reflect MicroDoc’s engineering philosophy: high-performance, secure, and intuitive software tailored for real-world industrial environments — built on the foundation of Rust.

  • Rust provides memory safety without sacrificing speed or control, reducing downtime and enhancing security
  • Vue.js delivers a smooth and modern web interface accessible from any browser
  • Minimal resource requirements (~20MB) make these apps ideal for constrained environments

Whether you’re troubleshooting a data flow or building out a cloud integration strategy, these tools make it easier to work directly at the edge — with the peace of mind that comes from Rust’s safety guarantees.

This Is Just the Beginning

These two applications are the first steps in our broader vision to create a suite of intelligent tools for PLCs and industrial edge computing. Future plans include support for:

  • More complex cloud routing and analytics
  • Extended OPC UA capabilities
  • Integration with multiple cloud providers

We’re building with flexibility and modularity in mind — and we’d love to hear from you about your needs and ideas.

Try It Today

Both applications are available now via the PLCnext Store. Whether you’re an OEM, system integrator, or automation engineer, MicroDoc’s tools can help you simplify diagnostics, speed up integration, and bring real intelligence to the edge.

👉 Contact us for enterprise support or custom solutions