tia-openness-roadmap

Goal

Route the task to the correct implementation path and load the right skill files.

Mandatory policy

1. Prefer TIA Portal MCP for interactive, single-step read/write operations when the MCP server is available.
2. Prefer TIA Scripting Python for scripted or multi-step automation.
3. Use C# TIA Portal Openness only if Python is insufficient.
4. Do not invent Python wrapper methods.
5. For multi-domain tasks, select all required skills.

Implementation paths

MCP path

Direct tool calls — no code generation. Use when the TIA Portal MCP server is available.

Skill	Location
tia-portal-mcp	skills/tia-portal-mcp/SKILL.md

Python path

Single skill owns all Python implementation:

Skill	Location
tia-python	skills/tia-python/SKILL.md

tia-python contains its own reference file table that routes to the correct references/*.md file based on the task domain (PLC, HMI, library, project, portal).

C# path

Always starts with the common foundation skill, then domain skill(s):

Skill	Location	Role
tia-csharp-common	skills/tia-csharp-common/SKILL.md	Mandatory first load for every C# task
tia-project-general	skills/tia-project-general/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-devices-general	skills/tia-devices-general/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-hmi-operations	skills/tia-hmi-operations/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-plc-operations	skills/tia-plc-operations/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-networks	skills/tia-networks/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-simatic-drives	skills/tia-simatic-drives/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-import-export	skills/tia-import-export/SKILL.md	Domain skill

Add-In path

Standalone skill for TIA Portal Add-In development (always C#, VS Code workflow):

Skill	Location
addin-operations	skills/addin-operations/SKILL.md

Routing rules

Task pattern	Implementation	Skill
browse / explore project tree structure	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
read a single PLC block (view logic / generate code)	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
targeted single-block edit	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
list tag tables and tags	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
inspect hardware topology / IP addresses	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
cross-reference diagnostics / unused objects	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
add a single device to the project	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
configure device network identity (IP, PN name)	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
compile check / view errors and warnings	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
open/create/save/archive/retrieve project	Python	tia-python
project server / local session / portal attach	Python	tia-python
PLC blocks / tags / UDTs / sources / compile	Python	tia-python
PLC online / download / compare-to-online	Python	tia-python
HMI tags / screens / scripts / alarms / lists	Python	tia-python
HMI import/export / compile	Python	tia-python
library types / versions / instantiate / update	Python	tia-python
XML / SimaticML / AML / CAx import/export	Python	tia-python
generic device compile / upgrade / properties	Python	tia-python
topology / subnet / node / IO-system / port	C#	tia-networks
Startdrive / SINAMICS / drive controller	C#	tia-simatic-drives
device item slot/subslot/module manipulation	C#	tia-devices-general
advanced PLC online/security/upload services	C#	tia-plc-operations
deep Unified HMI / screen items / runtime	C#	tia-hmi-operations
advanced multiuser / VCI / Teamcenter	C#	tia-project-general
TIA Portal Add-In / addin-project / .addin	C#	addin-operations

MCP vs Python vs C# decision rule

Choose MCP when:

• the task is a single read or targeted write (one block, one device, one compile check)
• the user wants to explore or inspect a project interactively
• no looping, no bulk changes, no code generation is needed
• the tia-portal MCP server is available (check mcp__tia-portal__* tools)

Choose Python when the exact required operation exists in the tia-python reference files. Choose C# when:

• the required operation is absent from the Python reference catalogue
• the task needs low-level object model traversal
• the task needs topology/network object manipulation
• the task needs drive-specific APIs
• the task needs advanced online/security/session/event APIs
• the task needs Teamcenter, VCI, advanced multiuser, or unsupported safety/Unified features

Multi-skill execution order

1. project / portal
2. device selection
3. domain work
4. import/export
5. compile / compare / download / validation

Required response format

Use this exact structure:

• Use skill(s): ...
• Implementation path: MCP or Implementation path: Python or Implementation path: C# Openness
• Reason: ...
• Execution order: ...

Post-routing action — MANDATORY

If MCP: read skills/tia-portal-mcp/SKILL.md. Use the MCP tools directly — no code generation.

If Python: read skills/tia-python/SKILL.md, then load the reference file(s) it points to for the task domain. Do NOT load domain skills — they are for C# only.

If C#:

1. Read skills/tia-csharp-common/SKILL.md first — always, for every C# task.
2. Read the SKILL.md and reference_catalogue.md of each selected domain skill. Use the file paths from the C# domain skills table above.

If Add-In: read skills/addin-operations/SKILL.md. No other skills needed.

Do NOT write code based solely on the routing response — always load the skill files first.

Escalation rule

If implementation starts in Python and the required call is not documented:

• stop
• switch to the corresponding C# domain skill
• load tia-csharp-common first, then the domain skill
• keep the same task decomposition

Hard escalation triggers (always C#)

• device item slot/subslot operations
• subnet/node/IO-system/port/channel/address manipulation
• Teamcenter / ConnectSSO
• VCI / advanced multiuser
• advanced PLC online/security services
• advanced Unified internals
• drive-specific engineering
• diagnostics / event handlers / self-description APIs