# Advice about setup for software development Ignition - PLC Simulator and if applies something else

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/advice-about-setup-for-software-development-ignition-plc-simulator-and-if-applies-something-else/81199>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition81\
**Created:** [October 30, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/advice-about-setup-for-software-development-ignition-plc-simulator-and-if-applies-something-else/81199 "2023-10-30T20:28:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gustavo\_Rojas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Gustavo\_Rojas](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Gustavo_Rojas)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/advice-about-setup-for-software-development-ignition-plc-simulator-and-if-applies-something-else/81199/1 "2023-10-30T20:28:18Z")

</div>

I am thinking about a setup for software development Ignition - PLC Simulator and if something else.  
I am a software developer and I am thinking (I don't know if I am so naive) of a only software setup.  
For example Ignition for the SCADA part and CODESYS for the PLC Simulation part .  
I know the visual IDEs I can use in some parts. IntelliJ or Phycharm for example  
What I am missing? Do I need a real PLC (hardware I mean) or I can handle the Software development Cycle only with software? If this is the case what Kit can I buy to achieve this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Felipe\_CRM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Felipe\_CRM](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Felipe_CRM)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/advice-about-setup-for-software-development-ignition-plc-simulator-and-if-applies-something-else/81199/2 "2023-10-30T20:35:05Z")

</div>

Check this out, has some useful techniques:

> [@Develop HMI without OPC provider, flip OPC tag references quickly](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/develop-hmi-without-opc-provider-flip-opc-tag-references-quickly/77527):
>
> I am developing an HMI for a Rockwell system and I have no access to a PLC or simulated PLC. I'd like to develop and test all the HMI functionality (conveyor lines, alarm faulting, animations, metrics). I have developed Ignition solutions in Vision for at least 6 years and usually I am the PLC programmer with access to a PLC or simulator. Most tags will be based on UDT's and the OPC addressing is created via parameters in the UDT. Questions: Is there a tricky way to quickly "flip" all t…