The distribution is made of two elements: a zipped file that contains merge modules that are used in 3rd-party installation packages to install COBIA Runtime (also known as COBIA Core), and an installation package of COBIA Software Development Kit (SDK).
COBIA Runtime can be freely used and redistributed. It consists of middleware components that will be installed on the end-user’s computer during installation of COBIA-based Process Modelling Environments (PMEs) and Process Modelling Components (PMCs) developed by a software provider. The COBIA Runtime is intended to be distributed with and utilized by third-party software. The archive also contains a stand-alone installation package that deploys the contents of the above mentioned merge modules.
The COBIA Software Development Kit (SDK) is provided as a stand-alone installation package which distributes a set of components and tools that are used by a software developer to create software that utilizes COBIA as the middleware for CAPE-OPEN interoperability. The SDK includes tools to compile the source code of interfaces developed using the CAPE-OPEN Interface Definition Language (IDL) specifically adapted to COBIA.
Development and maintenance of COBIA is conducted by AmsterCHEM for CO-LaN.
On February 8, 2021, within their development process of version 7.2 of Multiflash, which is the first version of Multiflash to rely on COBIA middleware for CAPE-OPEN interoperability, KBC asked CO-LaN if transitioning from COM to COBIA in persistence could be quickly implemented in COMBIA.
Multiflash, as a CAPE-OPEN Property Package, has been used in many flowsheets of various process simulators and these flowsheets have been persisted using COM persistence functions since COM-based CAPE-OPEN interoperability relies on COM persistence functions. After deployment of Multiflash 7.2 as a COBIA-based CAPE-OPEN application, KBC wants its clients to be able to reload in any process simulator any flowsheet making use of Multiflash but having been persisted using COM persistence.
In order to fulfill the request made by KBC, an early-adopter of COBIA, the Methods & Tools Special Interest Group has reviewed the transitioning scheme previously defined but not implemented in COBIA and has finalized, over its most recent meetings, the design of the functionality. A provisional version 1.2.0.2 was delivered to KBC by CO-LaN on March 10, 2021. The functionality was then implemented in Multiflash by KBC and tests performed to KBC’s satisfaction.
Version 1.2.0.2 resolves the following tickets:
- Ticket 46: COBIA Ideal Thermo package edit box does not show
- Ticket 49: ThermoClientTestPME incorrectly persists array of integers
- Ticket 50: persistence transition
CO-LaN encourages software developers to use version 1.2.0.2.