Introduction

In industrial sites or embedded development, debugging communication interfaces is often a love-hate experience. Sometimes, a simple data transmission issue can take half a day to resolve; at other times, lacking a suitable tool forces one to cobble together multiple software solutions just to manage.

This article introduces a comprehensive and user-friendly debugging tool that can significantly enhance efficiency. It integrates various functions such as TCP/UDP network communication, serial port debugging, and PLC protocol support, providing a one-stop solution for users.

Project Overview

A cross-platform communication debugging tool based on web technology, supporting HTTP, WebSocket, TCP/UDP, RS232/485 serial communication, as well as debugging for mainstream PLC protocols like Mitsubishi and Siemens.

The core design philosophy is “lightweight” and “modular,” integrating multiple communication methods through a unified interface, allowing complex debugging tasks to be completed without switching between different software.

Project Features

1. Network Communication Debugging

Supports local and remote connections using TCP/UDP protocols, allowing customization of local ports (e.g., 5003, 5004) and remote IPs (e.g., 127.0.0.1).

Users can send custom messages (e.g., Barcode:Pn123), view received data in real-time, and configure parameters such as check bits and stop bits.

The WebSocket feature further expands real-time communication scenarios, such as IoT device monitoring.

2. Serial Port Debugging

Integrates RS232/485 serial communication modules, supporting COM port selection (e.g., COM1), baud rate settings (default 9600), and adjustments for data bits/stop bits. The “Send” button allows for quick testing of device responses, suitable for debugging hardware like sensors and controllers.

3. PLC Protocol Support

Covers mainstream PLC protocols such as Mitsubishi PUC and Siemens MODBUS, providing a simulated PLC function to verify logical correctness. Users can establish communication with real devices using the “Connect” button or use the “Simulate PLC” mode for offline development, reducing dependency on hardware environments.

4. Advanced Features

Supports POST requests and WebService calls, facilitating integration with web service interfaces; provides a “Clear” button to quickly reset the debugging window; and allows users to pre-store commonly used commands through the “Select Message” feature, enhancing efficiency for repetitive tasks.

Project Characteristics

1. Modular Design

Each communication module is independently packaged, allowing users to flexibly enable or disable features based on their needs. For instance, when only debugging the serial port, users can hide network communication-related interfaces to simplify the operation process.

2. Real-time Data Visualization

Received data is displayed in both text and hexadecimal formats, supporting timestamp recording for easier analysis of communication timing. The UDP/TCP debugging window can simultaneously display sent and received content, allowing for comparison and verification of data consistency.

Project Technology

1. Frontend Technology Stack

WebSocket communication uses the Socket.IO library to ensure stable real-time data transmission.

2. Backend Architecture

TCP/UDP communication is implemented through native net and dgram modules, while serial port debugging relies on the serialport library, and PLC protocol parsing adopts a modular plugin design.

3. Performance Optimization

For high-frequency data scenarios (e.g., serial communication), Web Worker multi-threading technology is employed to avoid interface lag; asynchronous I/O models (e.g., Promise) enhance concurrent processing capabilities, ensuring smooth execution of multiple tasks simultaneously.

Project Code

Setting Up Service Listening

private void StartWebsocketServer()
{
    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(this.txtWebsocketPort.Text.Trim()))
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Port number cannot be empty!");
        return;
    }

    int port = Convert.ToInt32(this.txtWebsocketPort.Text.Trim());
    //_WebSocketServer.State
    _WebSocketServer.NewSessionConnected += WebSocketServer_NewSessionConnected;
    _WebSocketServer.NewMessageReceived += WebSocketServer_NewMessageReceived;
    _WebSocketServer.SessionClosed += WebSocketServer_SessionClosed;
    ServerConfig serverConfig = new ServerConfig();
    serverConfig.Ip = "127.0.0.1";
    serverConfig.Port = port;
    //serverConfig.ReceiveBufferSize = 10240;
    if (!_WebSocketServer.Setup(serverConfig))
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Failed to set up service listening!");
        return;
    }

    if (!_WebSocketServer.Start())
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Failed to start service listening!");
        return;
    }

    this.btnStartWss.Text = "Started";
    this.btnStartWss.ForeColor = Color.White;
    this.btnStartWss.BackColor = Color.Green;
}

Project Results

Tool Homepage

PLC Simulation Point SettingModbusSiemens PLC Read/WriteOther PLC Read/Write

Project Source Code

Gitee: https://gitee.com/fanyeyong/okdebug

Conclusion

With comprehensive functionality coverage, a lightweight design philosophy, and an open-source collaboration model, this tool redefines the standards for communication debugging tools. Whether for beginners to quickly get started or for deep customization, it provides reliable support.

Keywords

#Communication Debugging, #TCP, #UDP, #Serial Port, #PLC, #WebSocket, Open Source Project, #Cross-Platform, #Modular, #TCP/UDP, #Serial Port Debugging, #PLC Simulation, #Modbus, #WinForm, #Industrial Automation

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Author: Little Code Craftsman

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