Programmable Logic Controllers vs Industrial PCs

Developers should learn PLCs when working in industrial automation, manufacturing, or control systems engineering, as they are essential for automating machinery and processes in factories, power plants, and infrastructure meets developers should learn about industrial pcs when building or maintaining systems for industrial automation, iot deployments, or edge computing in challenging conditions. Here's our take.

Programmable Logic Controllers

Nice Pick

Developers should learn PLCs when working in industrial automation, manufacturing, or control systems engineering, as they are essential for automating machinery and processes in factories, power plants, and infrastructure

Pros

• They are used in scenarios requiring real-time control, such as conveyor belt systems, packaging lines, or water treatment plants, due to their reliability and deterministic response times
• Related to: ladder-logic, scada-systems

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Industrial PCs

Developers should learn about Industrial PCs when building or maintaining systems for industrial automation, IoT deployments, or edge computing in challenging conditions

Pros

• They are essential for applications requiring high reliability, long-term availability, and compliance with industrial standards (e
• Related to: industrial-automation, plc-programming

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Programmable Logic Controllers is a tool while Industrial PCs is a platform. We picked Programmable Logic Controllers based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Programmable Logic Controllers wins

Based on overall popularity. Programmable Logic Controllers is more widely used, but Industrial PCs excels in its own space.