Dear Apache PLC4X Community
I'm Jasveen Sandral, a software engineer with experience in industrial
systems development and open source contributions. I've recently been
contributing to the plc4rs implementation (PR #2010
<https://github.com/apache/plc4x/pull/2010>), where I've added transport
layer implementations with TCP/UDP support and addressed feedback regarding
directory structure and licensing compliance.
*Project Proposal: Comprehensive Rust Implementation of Apache PLC4X
(plc4rs)*
After reviewing the GSoC 2025 ideas list and noting that PLC4X isn't
currently listed, I'd like to propose a large-scale project that builds on
my existing contributions and significantly advances the Rust
implementation of Apache PLC4X.
*Project Overview*
This comprehensive project aims to transform the nascent plc4rs
implementation into a production-ready component with feature parity to the
Java implementation for key industrial protocols. The project encompasses
protocol implementations, advanced features, testing infrastructure, and
integration with the Apache PLC4X ecosystem.
*Current State Assessment*The plc4rs implementation currently has:
1. Basic transport layer with TCP/UDP implementations
2. Initial S7 protocol structure definitions
3. Maven integration with the main PLC4X build
4. Apache license compliance
However, to be truly valuable for industrial applications, it needs:
1. Complete protocol implementations
2. Advanced protocol features (alarms, events, subscriptions)
3. Comprehensive testing infrastructure
4. Integration with the PLC4X ecosystem
5. Performance optimizations and benchmarking
*Proposed Deliverables (Large Project - 350 hours)*
1. Core Protocol Implementations (Essential)
1. S7 Protocol Suite
1. Complete S7 protocol implementation with read/write capabilities
2. Implement advanced S7 features (device status management,
system events, cyclic subscriptions)
3. Add SZL/SSL diagnostics support as described in the PLC4X
documentation
4. Support for S7-300/400/1200/1500 controller types
2. Modbus Protocol Suite
1. Implement Modbus TCP protocol driver
2. Add Modbus RTU (serial) support
3. Implement Modbus server simulation for testing
3. EtherNet/IP Protocol (if time permits)
1. Basic EtherNet/IP CIP messaging
2. Tag-based addressing for Allen-Bradley PLCs
2. Advanced Features (Essential)
1. Subscription System
1. Implement event-based subscription mechanism
2. Support for cyclic data acquisition
3. Alarm and event handling
2. Connection Management
1. Connection pooling and caching
2. Automatic reconnection strategies
3. Connection monitoring and diagnostics
3. Testing Infrastructure (Essential)
1. XML-Based Test Framework
1. Develop XML-based test runners compatible with existing PLC4X
test cases
2. Create protocol-specific integration tests
3. Implement automated test fixtures for protocol validation
2. Simulation Environment
1. Develop PLC simulators for testing without physical hardware
2. Create capture/replay functionality for testing with real-world
data
3. Implement fault injection for robustness testing
4. Build System & CI Integration (Essential)
1. Maven Integration
1. Enhance Maven integration with proper dependency management
2. Implement cross-platform build support (Linux, Windows, macOS)
3. Create Rust-specific build extensions
2. CI/CD Pipeline
1. Fix GitHub Actions configuration for automated testing
2. Implement comprehensive test coverage reporting
3. Add performance regression testing
5. Documentation & Examples (Essential)
1. API Documentation
1. Create comprehensive API documentation with examples
2. Develop quickstart guides for Rust users
3. Document protocol implementation patterns for future
contributors
2. Example Applications
1. Create example applications demonstrating real-world usage
2. Develop integration examples with popular Rust frameworks
3. Implement benchmarking tools for performance comparison
6. Integration with PLC4X Ecosystem (Optional)
1. Proxy Implementation
1. Implement PLC4X proxy protocol for interoperability
2. Create bridges between Java and Rust implementations
3. Enable cross-language testing
2. Integration with Apache Projects
1. Develop integration examples with Apache Kafka
2. Create connectors for Apache NiFi
3. Explore integration with Apache IoTDB
*Technical Approach*
My implementation will follow these principles:
1. Protocol Compatibility: Ensure full compatibility with the Java
implementation by following the same protocol specifications defined in
mspec files. This includes:
1. Identical addressing schemes
2. Compatible data type handling
3. Equivalent error handling and diagnostics
2. Memory Safety: Leverage Rust's ownership model to eliminate
memory-related bugs while maintaining performance:
1. Zero-copy parsing where possible
2. Minimal heap allocations in critical paths
3. Clear ownership boundaries for connection management
3. Asynchronous Architecture: Build on Tokio for a fully asynchronous
implementation:
1. Non-blocking I/O for all transport layers
2. Structured concurrency for connection management
3. Backpressure handling for subscription systems
4. Testing Strategy: Implement a multi-layered testing approach:
1. Unit tests for individual components
2. Integration tests against protocol specifications
3. System tests with simulated or real PLCs
4. Compatibility tests against Java implementation
5. Performance Optimization:
1. Benchmark-driven optimization
2. Protocol-specific optimizations (e.g., connection pooling for S7)
3. Memory usage profiling and optimization
*Detailed Timeline (12-week standard period)*
1. Community Bonding Period (3 weeks)
1. Set up development environment and CI/CD pipeline
2. Engage with the community to refine requirements
3. Study protocol specifications and Java implementation details
2. Week 1-2: S7 Protocol Implementation - Basic Features
1. Complete S7 protocol message structure implementation
2. Implement basic read/write operations for S7-300/400
3. Develop initial test cases for S7 communication
3. Week 3-4: S7 Protocol Implementation - Advanced Features
1. Implement device status management (RUN/STOP)
2. Add support for system events (Alarms/User messages)
3. Develop cyclic subscription (CYC) functionality
4. Implement SZL/SSL diagnostics
4. Week 5-6: Modbus Protocol Implementation
1. Implement Modbus TCP protocol driver
2. Add Modbus RTU (serial) support
3. Develop Modbus server simulation for testing
4. Create a comprehensive test suite for Modbus
5. Week 7-8: Testing Infrastructure
1. Develop XML-based test runners compatible with existing PLC4X test
cases
2. Create protocol-specific integration tests
3. Implement automated test fixtures for protocol validation
4. Develop PLC simulators for testing without physical hardware
6. Week 9-10: Build System & CI Integration
1. Enhance Maven integration with proper dependency management
2. Fix GitHub Actions configuration for automated testing
3. Implement cross-platform build support
4. Add performance regression testing
7. Week 11-12: Documentation, Examples & Final Integration
1. Create comprehensive API documentation with examples
2. Develop quickstart guides for Rust users
3. Create example applications demonstrating real-world usage
4. Final testing and bug fixing
*Benefits to Apache PLC4X*
This project will deliver significant benefits to the Apache PLC4X
ecosystem:
1. Expanded Language Support: A production-ready Rust implementation
will attract users from the growing Rust ecosystem, especially in
safety-critical industrial applications.
2. Enhanced Security: Rust's memory safety guarantees will provide a
more secure option for industrial communication, addressing a critical
concern in industrial automation.
3. Performance Improvements: Rust's performance characteristics will
enable PLC4X to be used in more resource-constrained environments and
high-throughput scenarios.
4. Cross-implementation testing: Having multiple implementations will
improve overall project quality by identifying edge cases and specification
ambiguities.
5. Future-Proofing: As industrial automation increasingly adopts Rust
for safety-critical applications, PLC4X will be well-positioned with a
mature Rust implementation.
*Why I'm the Right Person for This Project*I bring a unique combination of
skills and experience that make me well-suited for this project:
1. Existing Contributions: I've already demonstrated my commitment to
PLC4X through my contributions to the plc4rs implementation (PR #2010
<https://github.com/apache/plc4x/pull/2010>).
2. Core Language Contributor: As a contributor to Ruby core
(implementing CSV::TSV), I have experience working on language-level
libraries and understanding API design principles.
3. Industrial Experience: My professional background includes developing
industrial IoT systems and working with industrial protocols, giving me
domain knowledge crucial for this project.
4. Rust Expertise: I have experience developing memory-safe concurrent
data processing solutions in Rust, which is directly applicable to protocol
implementation.
5. Full-Time Availability: I can commit full-time to this project during
the GSoC period, meaning consistent progress and communication.
*Questions for the Community*
1. Are there specific protocols beyond S7 and Modbus that would be a
higher priority for the Rust implementation?
2. What advanced S7 features would be most valuable to implement first?
3. Are there specific integration points with other Apache projects that
would be incredibly valuable?
4. Would anyone be willing to mentor this project for GSoC 2025?
I'm excited about the possibility of advancing plc4rs through GSoC and
would appreciate your feedback on this proposal. I'm happy to refine it
based on community priorities and mentor guidance.
Thank you for your consideration.
Jasveen Sandral
GitHub: jsxs0
Email: jsxs...@gmail.com
--
Excuse Brevity
Jasveen Singh Sandral
