PI launched the first PROFINET Community Stack a few years back. The stack contains full PROFINET Controller & Device functionality with well-defined APIs, which leverage easy adaptation to individual target hardware, operating systems, and IP stacks. The source and header files are derived from an original well-proven and PI pre-certified stack which runs in millions of PROFINET products.
NOTE: The PROFINET Community Stack is no SDK like from a solution provider. It is not something ‘ready to go’ that you can simply drop into your product like one from a solution provider. It is a protocol stack core.
The joint development and maintenance of a standardized protocol stack core for all manufacturers is not only accelerating implementation of the technology and reducing the expenditure of individual solution providers, but is also helping to improve the interoperability of devices from different manufacturers. Both sides benefit from faster integration of new developments in functions such as security.
All PI members can have access to this stack upon signing the licensing agreement. With this community idea we expect to increase the PROFINET ecosystem by gaining more technology providers, development kits, chip manufacturers, and contributors for continuous innovation from e.g. digitalization use-cases out of the PI community.
The PROFINET Community Stack was recently updated and this latest release introduces the following:
- A minimal IO Device example application designed for Raspberry Pi. This example is neither certified nor a devkit. It is a very simple example how one could make use of the Community Stack.
- Stack improvements
- New issue templates for questions
Learn more here: https://www.profibus.com/download/profinet-community-stack/
You can also access this latest release here: https://gitlab.profibus.com/
Please evaluate the version and provide feedback either via email or Gitlab Issue. It is planned for future releases to occur more frequently