The documentation for this release is [available online](https://into-cps-association.github.io/DTaaS/version0.4/index.html).
Improvements in this release:
For users:
* Available for localhost installation. You can experience the DTaaS software right on your computer without the need for a web server.
* The pre-installed packages in user workspaces have been reduced. The net result is improved execution speed of programs in user workspaces.
* The landing page for different library assets has been same in the previous releases. The latest release customizes the library page to show only the relevant assets.
* This release comes with three new examples. They are:
* The industrial PLCs use OPC UA protocol extensively. Water treatment plant with OPC-UA example showcases the use of OPC-UA protocol for a digital twin running inside DTaaS.
* The composition of DT assets is a powerful idea leading to building more complex twins. The three water tank example showcases the use of Maestro co-simulation tool to build new tools and use them in new digital twins. This example uses [DTManager framework](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10260417/) also demonstrates the possibility of using third-party DT frameworks inside DTaaS.
* The flex cell example also uses DTManager to create a digital twin of two collaborative robots. The example demonstrates use of configuration, save and analyze lifecycle phases.
For Administrators:
* Simplified trial and production installation. The installation time is significantly reduced.
* The library microservices is now available as a dedicated npm package. You can install and use the same as a standalone software package. You can run multiple instances of library microservice on a single server. (**NOTE**: The gitlab mode of library microservice has become non-functional due to changes in the API of the upstream Gitlab. The problem has not been fixed as of this release date. Hence, the gitlab mode of library microservice has been removed in this release.)
* Updates the third-party software dependencies used in the DTaaS software. These updates have removed twenty high and medium risk security vulnerabilities identified by the code analyzers.
* The virtual machine installation using vagrant has been improved to include recent software updates.
* Adds MongoDB as a new platform service.
For Developers:
* Adds pre-commit framework to improve git hooks.
* Makes the yarn commands cross-platform so that developers can work on Windows and Linux Operating Systems .
* Publishes library microservice directly from the github actions
Ongoing Development
The ongoing development activities present an opportunity for collaboration in research and software development spheres. The currently active areas of work are:
* Secure digital twin platforms
* A dedicated microservice named digital twin runner (**DT Runner**) for providing API interface to digital twins. This software component has the potential to turn a DT into a dedicated set of services.
* Development of run-time monitoring enabled digital twins in **DTaaS**.
* Integrate execution of digital twins on the DevOps infrastructure of Gitlab.
* Fully functional-installation of DTaaS in docker and kubernetes environments.
Contributors
This release has been made possible by contributions from:
Astitva Sehgal, Caroline Lei, Cesar Vela, Emre Temel, Huiqi Zhou, Mads Kelberg, Linda Nguyen, Nichlaes Sørensen, Nicklas Pedersen, Oliver Geneser, Ramon Bendinger, Santiago Gil Arboleda and Yohan Unver.
Legal Stuff
The DTaaS software is released under [The INTO-CPS Association License](https://into-cps-association.github.io/DTaaS/development/LICENSE.html). There are multiple third-party software integrated into the DTaaS. The list of third-party software and their licenses are available [online](https://into-cps-association.github.io/DTaaS/development/third-party.html).