Wiki 4: Visual Programming Languages (IEC 61499)¶
Master Craftsman Schools at Munich East Station¶
📋 This is in the curriculum (Framework Curriculum 2025)¶
Visual programming (IEC 61499 / 4diac) is the central core method of the Framework Curriculum 2025 for creating and diagnosing automated and autonomous functions on agricultural and construction machinery (LandBauMechMstrV of September 9, 2024, effective August 1, 2025).
- 📋 This is in the curriculum – Visual languages as a main curriculum topic
- ⚡ Automated functions with IEC 61499 (LE 1.4 / 40 units)
- 🔍 Fault diagnosis in automated & autonomous systems (LE 2.6 / 20 units)
- 🧩 Systems engineering, signal flow & state machines (LE 1.1 / 160 units)
Welcome to the documentation on visual programming languages.
This documentation is part of the knowledge base of the Meisterschulen at Munich East Station.
Useful Links:
- 📋 This is in the curriculum (Curriculum 2025)
- 🏠 Main Menu
- 🔍 Super Search (all wikis)
- 📄 Download PDF Handbook
- 📚 Wiki 4.1: 4diac Function Block & Adapter Library Reference (moved out of this wiki to keep builds fast)
- 📝 Wiki 4.2: Exercises – 4diac Training Solutions (moved out of this wiki to keep builds fast)
Welcome to the world of graphical programming! This documentation provides a comprehensive introduction to the concepts of visual programming, with a special focus on industrial automation according to IEC 61499.
🚀 Getting Started¶
Have you ever wondered how to create programs visually? Here you will find resources for beginners and advanced users – from the basics in Blockly or Scratch to professional applications in industry.
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Why Visual Programming? Abstraction of complex logic into intuitive graphical building blocks.
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Focus IEC 61499 The standard for distributed, event-driven control systems.
📖 Core Concepts¶
IEC 61499 & 4diac¶
IEC 61499 is an international standard for real-time processing in distributed control systems. It provides a flexible platform and a common language for communication between systems.
Eclipse 4diac is the leading open-source development environment for this standard. It enables the efficient modeling and distribution of complex industrial applications.
🎭 A Little Inspiration¶
IEC 61499 – A Poem in the Style of Goethe
IEC 61499, a system of modern design. Like clockwork, always in sync, it shapes automation.
Builded in layers, like a tower of building blocks. Each component is well thought out, to combine functions.
Like a thought passing through the mind, the program flows through the layers. Dynamic, flexible, always ready, to control and align the systems.
🛠 Navigation¶
Note
This project is under active development. Questions or suggestions? Visit our Discussion Forum.
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