Track what's new, improved, and fixed in each version of AutomationView.
May 2026
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¶ Bug Fixes and Improvements
General bug fixes, performance improvements, and security updates.
¶ Python OOP and Visual Sequence Editing
Sequences can now be built using Python class inheritance alongside the visual editor.
- Python files always open in the text editor. The LSP continues to index them for autocomplete, hover, and the project catalog.
- New palette commands: Create Base Class, Create Sequence from Class, and Initialize Standards Library — scaffold plain, parametrized, or mixin base classes, child sequences that inherit from a base, and a standards library pre-seeded with a
ProjectBaseSequence.
- The visual sequence editor now shows an extends badge next to the sequence name when the class inherits from a custom base class.
- Multi-level inheritance chains are resolved automatically, so indirect subclasses of
Sequence are detected correctly.
A native context menu is now available throughout the sequence editor.
- Right-click on steps, transitions, actions, comments, edges, or the empty canvas to access contextual actions.
- The floating step-type toolbar is replaced by a Change Type submenu inside the context menu.
- New actions accessible from the menu: Select All, Fit View, Copy, Cut, Paste, and Delete.
¶ Dynamic Contextual Toolbar and Bulk Step Renaming
The sequence editor toolbar adapts to what is selected.
- The toolbar shows a contextual panel next to the main toolbar depending on the selected element: step type control and rename for steps, edit and add action for transitions, move up/down and delete for actions, delete for comments, and a multi-selection panel.
- Bulk renaming: with steps selected,
Shift+R recomputes their names silently. With nothing selected, it opens a confirmation dialog and renumbers the entire sequence.
- Disabled toolbar buttons now show explanatory tooltips.
The Machine editor no longer requires a manual refresh.
- The Machine editor now subscribes to project changes and stays in sync automatically.
- The manual Refresh button has been removed.
- Reloads instance class lists and variable lists automatically when sequence files change.
When two or more sequence files declare the same class name, all affected files now show an error diagnostic that names the conflicting files. Diagnostics are cleared automatically when the conflict is resolved.
- Fixed SFC node positioning and layout problems.
- Fixed dropdown completion bugs in the sequence editor.
- Fixed selection behavior: selecting an element for inline editing now also sets it as the sole selection.
- Removed the rename cascade feature, which caused false-positive rewrites in cross-file references. Unresolved imports now surface as diagnostics.
- Fixed variable batch updates to include the updated parent object in emissions.
- Fixed selection state when starting emulation.
- The empty workspace watermark now shows a single Initialize Project button, replacing the previous two-button layout.
April 2026
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¶ Bug Fixes and Improvements
General bug fixes, performance improvements, and security updates.
This release introduces the concept of Plugins — additional components that extend AutomationView's compatibility with specific manufacturers and platforms, such as Codesys, TIA Portal, and Studio 5000.
Plugins are currently in an experimental phase and under active development. Expect breaking changes and limited stability.
Key plugin capabilities introduced in this release:
- Live Translation Mode — Real-time translation of the automation sequence, with full project export through the active plugin.
- Custom Action Registration — Plugins can now register their own custom actions, significantly increasing plugin autonomy and extensibility.
- Target Machine Settings — Users can now save the manufacturer and target PLC directly in the machine settings, allowing plugins to adapt their behavior accordingly.
The sequence editor has been completely redesigned for a faster and more intuitive experience:
- Smoother animations and refreshed color palette.
- Improved overall interface responsiveness.
- New design — steps, actions, and transitions redesigned to be more logical and cleaner.
- New grid size settings — Configure the grid granularity to match your workflow.
- New font size settings — Adjust text size directly within the editor.
- Removed the legacy Plugin panel from the AutomationView menu.
- Removed the Open VSX integration.
- These removals pave the way for a dedicated Plugin Marketplace, allowing users to browse, install, and manage plugins from a centralized interface.
March 2026
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This is our first official release note. It includes a summary of what AutomationView already offers as of v0.3.9.
- Improved Diagnostics — Now displayed directly in the visual editor.
- Drag-and-drop actions — Drag actions across steps and transitions. Drop above, below, or onto another action to replace it.
- Drag-and-drop action text — Quickly replace action content by dragging text between actions, making editing much faster.
¶ Bug Fixes and Improvements
- General bug fixes, performance improvements, and security updates.
- Removed the reachability diagnostic that flagged nodes unreachable from an initial step (e.g., macros without an initial step). A step should also be activatable or deactivatable from another Grafcet, which the previous check did not account for.
| Feature |
Description |
| Visual Sequence Editor |
Interactive canvas for designing SFCs with real-time Python code synchronization |
| Project Management |
Create and manage projects with a file-based infrastructure |
| Python-Based Automation |
Define steps, transitions, and actions using an intuitive Python OOP API, compliant with IEC 61131-3 |
| PLC Emulation |
Built-in scan-cycle emulation engine for testing sequences without physical hardware |
| Intelligent Diagnostics |
Real-time structural validation detecting deadlocks, unreachable steps, and address conflicts |
| Smart Completion |
Context-aware code completion |
| Git Integration |
Built-in version control for tracking project changes |
| Project Templates |
Quick-start templates for common automation patterns |
Features planned for future releases. See the full Roadmap for details.
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