[ANNOUNCE] Apache PLC4X 0.5.0 released

[Christofer Dutz <cd...@apache.org>]

The Apache PLC4X team is pleased to announce the release of Apache PLC4X
0.5.0

PLC4X is a set of libraries for communicating with industrial programmable
logic controllers (PLCs) using a variety of protocols but with a shared API.

The current release contains drivers able to communicate with
industrial PLCs using one of the following protocols:

  *   Siemens S7-STEP7
  *   Beckhoff ADS
  *   Modbus
  *   EtherNet/IP
  *   OPC-UA
  *   AB-ETH

Beyond that we also provide integration modules for the following
Apache projects and frameworks:

  *   Apache Calcite
  *   Apache Camel
  *   Apache Edgent (Incubating)
  *   Apache Kafka (Kafka Connect)
  *   Apache Karaf
  *   Apache NiFi
  *   Elastic LogStash

Starting with this release, we are proud to announce the availability
of all PLC4J modules as valid OSGi Bundles.

The API version generally supports:

  *   Java

We are also working on versions in:

  *   C++
  *   C#/.NET
  *   Python

However there are currently no driver implementations for any language
other than Java yet.
So please consider these technology previews.

Visit the Apache PLC4X website [1] for general information or
the downloads page [2] for release notes and download information.

RELEASE NOTES

This is the first release containing our new generated drivers (AB-ETH)

New Features
------------

- Implemented a new Apache Kafka Connect integration module
- Implemented a new Apache NiFi integration module
- Implemented a new Logstash integration module
- Implemented a driver for the AB-ETH protocol
- Implemented Apache Karaf features for S7 OSGI drivers
- PLC4X-121    Develop Code Generation to allow Generated Drivers in
multiple Languages

Sandbox (Beta-Features)
- Implemented a new BACnet/IP passive mode driver
- Implemented a new Serial DF1 driver

Incompatible changes
--------------------

Bug Fixes
---------

- PLC4X-104    S7 Driver Datatype TIME_OF_DAY causes
ArrayOutOfBoundException
- PLC4X-134    S7 is terminating the connection during handshake
- PLC4X-139    PLC4X leaks sockets in case of connection problems
- PLC4X-141    String with real length of greater 127 throw an exception
- PLC4X-144    When requesting invalid addresses, the
DefaultS7MessageProcessor produces errors

Regards,
The Apache PLC4X team

[1] http://plc4x.apache.org
[2] http://plc4x.apache.org/users/download.html