How a single HTML file replaces million-dollar SCADA software

After 20+ years in industrial automation — working with PLCs, RTUs, SCADA systems, and digital substations — I was frustrated. Every SCADA platform I used required:

• Heavy installation (2-4 GB)
• Dedicated server infrastructure
• Annual license fees ($5,000-50,000/year)
• Vendor lock-in
• Windows-only deployment

So I built BitSCADA — a complete industrial SCADA system that runs entirely from a single HTML file. Open it in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari — and you have a fully functional SCADA with real-time visualization, function blocks, and industrial protocol support.

What makes it unique?

1. Literally one file

The entire SCADA — graphic editor, runtime engine, 53 function blocks, 65 graphic elements — lives inside a single HTML file (~240 KB online, ~3 MB offline with embedded React). No installation. No server. No database server (SQLite is built into the Gateway).

2. Full IEC 61850 support in a browser

This is the part I'm most proud of. No other browser-based SCADA supports IEC 61850. BitSCADA implements:

• MMS client — read/write data objects, datasets, reports
• GOOSE subscriber — real-time event subscription
• Sampled Values receiver — phasor measurement streams

This means you can connect to digital substations directly from your browser.

3. 9 industrial protocols

IEC 61850 (MMS, GOOSE, Sampled Values)
OPC UA (browsing, subscriptions, read/write)
OPC DA (via COM/DCOM bridge)
Modbus TCP (holding/input registers, coils)
MQTT
SNMP
REST API (15 endpoints)
WebSocket (real-time)
Custom protocols via Python Gateway

4. 53 function blocks

Not just visualization — BitSCADA has a complete FBD (Function Block Diagram) engine:

• Logic: AND, OR, NOT, XOR, SR flip-flop, edge detectors
• Math: add, subtract, multiply, divide, abs, min, max, formula
• Timers: on-delay, off-delay, pulse
• Counters: up, down, up/down with preset
• PID controller with anti-windup
• Filters: exponential, sliding window, RMS
• Comparators, limiters, multiplexers
• Database write, alarm generators, signal generators

5. 65 graphic elements

Drag & drop from the palette:

• Process equipment: pumps, motors, fans, compressors, conveyors
• Valves: gate valves, ball valves, check valves, control valves
• Vessels: tanks, columns, separators, heat exchangers
• Piping: horizontal/vertical pipes, elbows, tees, reducers
• Electrical: contactors, fuses, transformers, grounding
• Sensors: pressure, temperature, level, flow meters
• Indicators: gauges, bar charts, traffic lights, lamps
• Displays: trends, sliders, buttons, switches

Architecture

The system has two components:

Browser (any modern browser)
└── BitSCADA HTML file
        ├── Graphic Editor (drag & drop, multi-page, popups)
        ├── Runtime (fullscreen, password protection, alarms)
        ├── Function Block Engine (53 blocks, 100ms cycle)
        └── WebSocket ←→ SCADA Gateway (Python)
                            ├── IEC 61850 (asyncua + custom)
                            ├── OPC UA (asyncua library)
                            ├── Modbus TCP (pymodbus)
                            ├── MQTT / SNMP
                            ├── SQLite Database
                            └── REST API (15 endpoints)

The Browser handles all visualization and logic. The Python Gateway handles protocol communication and database storage. They communicate via WebSocket.

Performance

Tech stack

• Frontend: React 18, JSX, Babel (transpiled in-browser)
• Backend: Python 3.10+, asyncio, aiohttp
• Protocols: asyncua (OPC UA), pymodbus, custom IEC 61850
• Database: SQLite3
• Build: Custom Python build script, Base64 encoding, XOR protection

The build process

One thing I'm particularly proud of is the build system. The JSX source (~175 KB) gets:

1. Base64 encoded
2. SHA256 integrity hash computed
3. XOR-encrypted author watermark embedded
4. Unique Build ID and License Key generated
5. Everything injected into the HTML template

The result is a self-contained, tamper-protected HTML file that works offline.

Try it yourself

🌐 Live Demo & Documentation

📥 Download Free Demo — 2-hour trial, no registration

💻 GitHub Repository

💰 Buy Full Source Code — complete source with build system

About me

I'm an industrial automation engineer (IACS/SCADA) with 20+ years of experience:

• Process automation systems design and deployment
• PLC/RTU programming and commissioning
• Network equipment configuration (Cisco, MikroTik, Huawei)
• SCADA/HMI development and integration
• IEC 61850 digital substation projects
• Technical documentation per industrial standards (GOST, IEC)
• Full-stack development (Python, JavaScript, React)
• AI/ML engineering (PyTorch, custom model training)
• AutoCAD, electrical schematics design

I built BitSCADA because I needed a lightweight, portable SCADA that I could deploy anywhere — from a USB stick at a remote substation to a tablet on the factory floor.

What's next?

I'm currently working on:

• Genesis-1 — an AI model trained on 32 IT specializations that can autonomously manage infrastructure
• Expanding BitSCADA protocol support
• Mobile-optimized runtime

What do you think? Would you use a browser-based SCADA in your projects? Let me know in the comments!