Develop only what changes

Why reinvent the same software infrastructure for every machine? cinnamon is an open-source automation framework for Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 that provides the reusable building blocks for modern PLC software. It abstracts hardware and recurring standard functionality, allowing developers to focus their time and expertise on what makes each machine unique.

By reducing repetitive programming effort, cinnamon helps machine builders develop faster, reduce costs, and create software that is easier to maintain and scale.

A modular architecture built for reuse

cinnamon brings modern software engineering principles to PLC programming. Its node-based architecture structures the automation software into reusable, independent components.

Everything is a node – from individual sensors and actuators to complete functional areas of a machine.

• Reusable and scalable: Combine nodes to create larger functional units and reuse them across projects.

• Clear and encapsulated: Each node contains its own logic and exposes well-defined interfaces.

• Hierarchical: Machine structures are reflected directly in the software architecture.

• Maintainable: Clear interfaces and reduced dependencies make software easier to understand, test, and extend.

Hardware-independent by design

cinnamon separates control logic from the underlying hardware through interface abstraction. Sensors, actuators, and devices are accessed through defined interfaces rather than being directly tied to specific hardware implementations.

This makes your software:

• Flexible: Hardware can be exchanged or simulated without changing the application logic.

• Testable: Interfaces can be mocked for automated testing and simulation.

• Maintainable: Control logic remains independent of manufacturers, protocols, and implementation details.

An HMI that builds itself

cinnamon can automatically generate HMI elements based on the structure of your PLC software. The framework reads the PLC architecture via the ADS interface and dynamically reflects it in the HMI.

Ready-made controls are available for common sensors and actuators, while machine-specific views can be developed individually.

The result is less manual HMI development and a consistent connection between PLC software and visualization.

Simplify complex processes

With cinnamon's CycleManager, complex processes can be defined as sequences of commands instead of being built from extensive individual status checks and special cases.

Whether you need to read a sensor, position an axis, or communicate with an external service, commands can be executed and evaluated within a structured process flow. Parallel command execution and automated process management help make complex sequences easier to develop, understand, and maintain.

Ready-made libraries for everyday automation

cinnamon provides a growing collection of reusable modules for common automation tasks, including:

• Operation mode handling

• Device monitoring

• Error management

• Recipe management

• Settings administration

• Data structures and collection utilities

• HMI components

• Assertions and testing utilities

Instead of developing these functions from scratch for every machine, your developers can build on a proven software foundation.

Open source and built for developers

cinnamon is open source and freely available under the Apache 2.0 license.

Use the complete framework or integrate individual components into your existing software architecture. cinnamon is designed to give machine builders the freedom to adapt, extend, and contribute to the framework.

Focus your development on what creates value

Traditional machine software development often means spending significant time on infrastructure, interfaces, and recurring standard functionality. cinnamon provides these foundations so that your development team can focus on the technology that differentiates your machines. That means less standard work and more machine-specific innovation.

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cinnamon source code: https://github.com/orgs/ekvipCinnamon/repositories

cinnamon documentation: https://static.ekvip.de/docs/