Example of a complete app_info.json To make it easier for you to create a correct JSON file, you can use the following JSON schema: { “$schema”: “https://raw.githubusercontent.com/PLCnext/App-Info-Schema/refs/heads/main/app-info-schema.json”, “plcnextapp”: { … } } If you use a code editor that supports JSON… Read More
PLCnext Control Solution A PLCnext Control Solution contains a complete PLCnext Engineer project configuration as an app part. A PLCnext Engineer Solution is also called solution for short. The user of a solution does not need any programming knowledge to use the app. A solution is transferred directly from the PLCnext Store or… Read More
OCI container The OCI container app part type is supported in the PLCnext Technology firmware from version 2025.0. This app part provides the possibility for simplified integration and run of OCI (Open Container Initiative) container images of apps on the PLCnext Technology device. For this topic the container engine… Read More
App parts The app container can contain various app parts. This allows different app types to be implemented. The app parts are entered as optional entries in the app description. If these parts are present, the PLCnext Runtime (AppManager) reacts accordingly. The app description file must contain… Read More
Creation of an app container The Linux command plcnextapp is available under /usr/bin and is used to create an app container. The following parameters are supported: create e.g.: plcnextapp create /opt/plcnext/myapp My App example e.g.: plcnextapp example “create”: Creates a… Read More
Command Line Tools A Command Line Tools app part makes it possible to integrate functionalities (cmd tools) into a system that are usable via the command line and that can be started from a shell without specifying the full path to the tool executable binary. Necessary additions… Read More
PLCnext Technology Apps A PLCnext Technology App (in the following also called “app” for short) is a collection of functionalities bundled into one large file that can be understood and executed by the PLCnext Technology Runtime System. Each app may contain multiple different parts, that provide functionalities to the system in their own… Read More
Update Configurations The update process is shown in the following figure: To update an app you need only to install the app container which contains the new app version (without uninstalling the old app version). The update is detected automatically when: An app is… Read More
App container A PLCnext Technology App is stored in a SquashFS container (see Squash FS on Wikipedia). A SquashFS container stores a folder and file structure in a single compressed file. The SquashFS containers of all installed and started apps are mounted by the AppManager in the Linux file system… Read More
App management In contrast to a classic package manager which installs the files of the application to be installed directly in the Linux file system, PLCnext Technology Apps are hosted in file containers (like a zip file) and the system references the files in the container. This procedure allows… Read More
