Browser Based Engineering
IDEaaS - IDE-as-a-Servcie
Browser-Based Engineering (IDEaaS)
Browser-Based Engineering, also referred to as IDE-as-a-Service (IDEaaS), transforms how industrial automation engineers develop, maintain, and deploy PLC projects. Instead of installing engineering software on local PCs, SDA provides a secure, cloud-hosted environment that allows users to access and manage their PLC programming tools directly from a web browser.
With IDEaaS, engineers can design, edit, and deploy automation projects from anywhere — securely and collaboratively — while maintaining full compatibility with native vendor tools. Each integrated environment runs in an isolated container within the SDA Cloud, ensuring both performance and compliance with vendor-specific licensing and runtime requirements.
Key Benefits
No local installs: Access the full engineering environment through a browser, eliminating dependency on local software versions or system configurations.
Vendor compatibility: Launch original vendor IDEs (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, CODESYS, Siemens TIA Portal, Rockwell Studio 5000, etc.) in secure, pre-configured cloud environments.
Version control integration: All projects are automatically versioned and stored within the SDA Project system for easy rollback, comparison, and collaborative editing.
Secure access: IDEaaS sessions run within the SDA Secure Remote Access (SRA) framework, ensuring encrypted communication between browser, SDA Cloud, and on-premise devices.
Scalable and managed: Resources are dynamically allocated based on workload, ensuring responsive performance even during complex builds or multi-user sessions.
Architecture Overview
Each IDE session runs in a containerized workspace within the customer’s tenant. This workspace connects through the SDA Connectivity Service to securely reach on-premise gateways and devices. This architecture enables:
Isolation between users, tenants, and projects
Controlled outbound-only communication
Integration with SDA’s identity, audit, and logging systems
Consistent performance across users and regions
Related Pages
Using with Browser-Based Engineering Learn how to launch, manage, and collaborate within an IDEaaS session, including saving, versioning, and device deployment.
Supported Vendors Explore detailed guidance for each supported automation vendor environment.
Troubleshooting Browser-Based Engineering Guidance for resolving session startup issues, performance bottlenecks, connectivity errors, or licensing conflicts.
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