How Ignition 8.3 is Changing Industrial Automation Forever
Industrial automation professionals and Ignition users will find key updates and future directions in this conversation between hosts Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes and their guest, Colby Clegg, CEO of Inductive Automation. The episode highlights Ignition 8.3’s new features, improved change management and source control, and the trajectory of community growth around the Ignition Community Conference (ICC). These key points are particularly relevant for anyone involved in deploying or managing industrial automation solutions.
Colby Clegg explains that Ignition 8.3 represents the completion of a vision conceived in 2018 or 2019. This release is not simply another software update but the culmination of a series that began with 8.0. As Clegg notes, "8.3 is the completion of a vision. And what that means specifically is, first of all, the way that all of the resources in Ignition, all the configuration is stored in the file system being open, being easily managed by Source Control and whatnot."
This move toward completely file-based configuration helps developers manage projects more efficiently and opens the door for advanced automation, including integration with RESTful APIs. For teams rolling out large-scale or distributed Ignition deployments, 8.3’s enhancements mean more accessible customization, better scalability, and a solid foundation for further system automation.
A recurring challenge in industrial software is tracking changes, managing versions, and deploying configurations across numerous systems. With Ignition 8.3, Clegg highlights improved change management capabilities: "8.3 really goes to the next level when it comes to source control change management using flat files, root JSON." This shift allows integrators to leverage traditional source control tools, aligning Ignition projects with mainstream IT and DevOps practices.
The deployment modes in 8.3 further assist users in separating and controlling dev, test, and production environments. Teams benefit by achieving clarity over what’s been changed, easier rollbacks, and a more organized workflow for resource and deployment management, especially when managing fleets of gateways across multiple facilities.
The episode also shines a light on the ever-growing Ignition community and the changes coming to the ICC conference. This year’s event is moving to the Sacramento Convention Center to accommodate increased demand and the addition of the Prove It sessions, which bring real-world problem solving to the forefront. Clegg remarks, "We're targeting to probably double the conference. We’re targeting around 1500 attendees."
This growth reflects Ignition’s expanding global reach and its importance as a central platform for industrial integration. The new venue allows more opportunities for networking, collaboration, and hands-on interaction with Ignition tools—whether in person or via a live stream pass.
"8.3 is the completion of a vision. And what that means specifically is, first of all, the way that all of the resources in Ignition, all the configuration is stored in the file system being open, being easily managed by Source Control and whatnot." — Colby Clegg
Ignition 8.3 delivers on years of planning, shifting all resource management to a file-based system for openness and flexibility.
Source control and deployment management now match modern DevOps needs, helping integrators manage large-scale or multi-site projects.
The ICC is scaling up, reflecting the expanding Ignition community and the importance of real-world collaboration and learning.
Ignition 8.3 stands as a milestone for industrial automation professionals, making systems simpler to manage, more flexible, and easier to scale. The improvements in source control and deployment management directly benefit teams overseeing increasingly complex projects. Attending the ICC, either in person or virtually, gives users a head start in leveraging these changes and connecting with the expanding community. Readers are encouraged to explore the new features in Ignition 8.3, adopt source control in their workflow, and consider participating in ICC 2025 for firsthand exposure to industrial innovation.
Colby Clegg is CEO of Inductive Automation and one of the original developers behind Ignition. With over two decades of experience in industrial software, Clegg leads the company’s engineering and product vision, focusing on openness, accessibility, and supporting a strong global community of automation professionals.
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