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I fight with this in the industrial automation space where a machine might last for decades but the control software is Windows based and lucky if its supported

I fight with this in the industrial automation space where a machine might last for decades but the control software is Windows based and lucky if its supported for 5 years. Maddening. I've had to retrofit machines with new controllers, write new GUI software to talk to lasers via serial protocols, and run various things in VM's on Xp. Then the Dos controlled machine with ISA cards -_- Though there is no easy answer when it comes to this. How does a manufacturer support software reliably for 10+ years? Meanwhile we have three old machines here with all electromechanical controls. I will still be able to buy relays for them in 50 years. I'll be dead by then.

darkteflon 6y ago
If your competence and competitive edge is long-lived hardware, why not open source the control software? Are there any downsides to doing this? Perhaps incorporating some binary blobs to hide proprietary IP where / if necessary.
- MisterTea 6y ago
  Industrial stuff has traditionally been proprietary and high priced. I suppose the volume is so low they have to charge such high prices for the development. I was once quoted 15,000 USD for a windows based HMI from a laser manufacturer. Also, to may, "open source" is still a phrase which to them means anything from low quality to "pirated". Seriously, someone thought open source was cracked pirated software. But the good news is a lot of the protocols and standards are opening up and open source stacks are common now. Many manufactures are also using Linux and even FreeBSD. But their software remains proprietary.