How on earth did you guess? ;-) I've run the Crouzet demo software in a XP virtual machine under linux, but not for actual programming (the demo won't do it). It didn't want to run properly under wine (at the time).
Only if you happen to have them. I just happen t have a dozen or so assorted PICs and a programmer so I don't really feel the urge to invest in even more junk to clutter the place up.
Now that can be a problem ... However, it always is. It doesn't matter what form the logic takes, someone is going to have to maintain the system - even if it involves reverse-engineering your work. This is something that I used to get involved in as a control panel designer!
The most basic, and expensive, system is to use relays and timers. It costs a bomb but is quite easy to maintain. Design and assembly time is quite high. Pretty good on systems running off 110vDC tripping batteries though. Not much else can handle this. Also very good when all signals are at mains voltage.
PLCs can cost even more and aren't maintainable after about 10 years anyway (no bits made now mate!). Lithium battery usually supports clock/ calender and, sometimes, user-changeable values. That goes flat in about
10 years and the usr will *not* have changed it regularly you can bet! Quite often the logic is self-checking, with regular memory tests. PLCs get *very, very* expensive as soon as someone mentions "analogue i/o".Intelligent relays have the programmable advantage of PLCs, but with a lot less cost. The internal lithium battery will run the clock/calender functions for about 10 years. I suspect that the logic isn't self- checking. Some can do analogue input & PWM output.
PIC & similar chips are a bit new yet. Very promising, but not self- checking logic so not good for replacing PLCs where it is critical. Can be *very* cost-effective though. You can always fit a socket and supply a few spares too, although if you've got the i/o designed right they'll probably never be needed. You could even do the whole jobby as a plug-in module now.