esd is launching a software stack for the development of Ethercat slave devices. The Ethercat Slave Stack is written in ANSI C. According to the manufacturer, the API-based interface offers a clear separation between the application and the stack, which makes it easier to switch to a newer stack version or different hardware platforms at a later date. This separation also enables the parallel development of embedded hardware devices and application software. The software stack supports all important Ethercat protocols and has been tested with various Ethercat slave controllers (ESC) and Ethercat masters. The source code version is based on a clearly defined hardware abstraction layer (HAL) in order to minimize the effort required to integrate the stack on the target hardware, according to the manufacturer.