Comfile Studio: PC-Based HMI/UI Development Overview

Recently, we’ve seen a steady increase in interest and purchases related to Comfile Studio. To better understand why, let’s first look at how PC-based HMI or UI software is typically developed today.

Common Approaches to PC-Based HMI/UI Development

There are generally two ways to build PC-based HMI (Human Machine Interface) or UI applications.

1) Build Everything from Scratch (Free, but Labor-Intensive)

One option is to use Microsoft Visual Studio and write the entire application in C# from the ground up. Since Visual Studio is free to download, there is no initial software licensing cost.

However, this method has clear drawbacks:
- No built-in industrial communication protocols
- No ready-made industrial UI components such as switches, indicators, or charts

This means engineers must develop everything themselves, including protocol handling and UI widgets. While this approach offers maximum flexibility, it significantly increases development time and maintenance effort.

2) Use Professional HMI / SCADA Software Packages

Another approach is to use commercial HMI or SCADA software provided by major automation vendors, such as:
- Siemens WinCC
- Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View
- AVEVA Wonderware
- Schneider Electric EcoStruxure / Vijeo

These platforms make application development much easier because most industrial communication protocols are already implemented. They also include a wide range of proven UI components, such as buttons, lamps, trends, and alarms.

Since these tools have been used in industrial environments for decades, they are generally considered stable and reliable.

The Main Drawback: Cost

The biggest downside of professional HMI and SCADA software is licensing cost. Licenses typically range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per runtime PC. For OEMs or system builders producing dozens or hundreds of identical systems, these per-unit runtime fees can quickly become a major financial burden.

So, What Exactly Is Comfile Studio?

Comfile Studio is a PC-based HMI software platform developed and maintained by COMFILE Technology for over 15 years. It is designed to let engineers build and maintain HMI (or UI) applications using a no-code approach, without requiring advanced programming skills such as C#.

Instead of writing large amounts of source code, users can focus on screen layout, logic flow, and system behavior, making both development and long-term maintenance much easier.

Simple and Transparent Pricing

Comfile Studio offers a very practical pricing model:
- Free to use with up to 30 widgets
- $99 for larger projects

This is not a software license that costs thousands of dollars. Comfile Studio is intentionally positioned between: Fully custom development using free tools, and High-end professional HMI/SCADA software with expensive runtime licenses


Examples of Products Built with Comfile Studio

Additional Clarification on Licensing and Deployment

One important point to clarify is that the Comfile Studio development tool itself is completely free. It can be downloaded at any time and installed on a developer’s PC at no cost.

Comfile Studio is used only during development. The executable file created on the development PC is then installed on the runtime PC. This means that Comfile Studio does not need to be installed on the runtime PC. Only the generated executable is required.

Licensing is handled via a USB dongle purchased for $99. By connecting this dongle to the runtime PC, the application runs without any additional software installation or recurring license fees.

Hardware Compatibility

Comfile Studio applications can run on virtually any standard PC. However, for use in industrial environments, we strongly recommend running them on a fanless industrial panel PC rather than a consumer-grade PC.

For this purpose, COMFILE Technology offers a range of industrial panel PCs that are well-suited for stable and long-term operation in factory and field environments.