Is it the Arduino Control Center yet another Arduino visual programming tool?

No, it isn't.ACC (Arduino Control Center) is not programming tool in real terms at all. If you are a skilled embedded programmer and you want full control of your C++ source code, than ACC is not tool for you. Well, I guess that none of the visual tools available on market is not your first choice.

But... either that you are advanced Arduino programmer or total beginner, controlling environment with different types of sensors, buttons, switches and perform some actions according to measured values by triggering relays and devices attached to them, is one of the commonly used way to manage the Arduino devices. There are bunch of examples to the internet which can be expanded to serious projects, but not with simple installation of Arduino IDE (programming environment) and uploading the code, without any knowledge of C++ programming language.

If you want fast results with complete controlled environment for sensors and relays with data acquisition, e-mail notifications, alarms, desktop and web access(even secured https) and all this portable and easy to set up, than Arduino Control Center should be your first choice!

If Arduino Control Center is not programming tool, how can be Arduino device programmed with this software?

ACC package has already defined firmware (Arduino compiled sketch) with support for different types of sensors, network adapters, timers and counters. ACC also have built in firmware uploader, so you don't need to have installed Arduino IDE. The software send array of data which are decoded in Arduino according to uploaded firmware. Arduino UNO and NANO have limited flash and RAM memory and because of that, there is a much more firmware for these devices with different configurations. Each firmware has detailed info what type of I/O is supported. Arduino MEGA has only three firmware(at this moment) and depends of network adapter type (ENC28J60, W5100) or Serial only support. These firmware already have included all supported libraries by Arduino Control Center, and enough free flash and RAM space for further expanding.

You are beginner and all this sounds very complicated for you?

Almost any software for Arduino programming has the famous keywords "easy to use" in description(well, even Arduino Control Center). Of course that is easy to use for software developer, but many times is very hard to understand the concept even for advanced users - programmers. I am sure that this is not the case with Arduino Control Center and when you start the software, all steps to the final working arduino program are logical and easy to follow. There are many hints and messages during building process, read it before closing the message dialogues. Of course, it will be good to read about Arduino project before start to be familiar with typical Arduino terms like digital input, digital output,analog input, digital input, digital output, PWM(pulse with modulation), shields, etc...

Arduino Control Center strength is...

Communication Arduino devices with PC, sending and receiving data over serial (USB ) or network connection, data acquisition, desktop (SCADA - like ) interface, alarms management and notifications, responsive web interface with embedded HTTP-HTTPS web server in desktop application, UDP server for sending - receiving data from many Arduino devices at the same time, changing I/O configuration without need to connect Arduino device to PC or laptop and many more features for controlling your automation system has to be a good reason for you to give it a try Arduino Control Center.

Key features:

Adding or removing INPUTS (sensors, switches) or OUTPUTS (relays) without need to compile and upload new firmware(compiled Adruino sketches).

Changing OUTPUTS triggering rules and I/O setup over Arduino network adapter (arduino shield) - currently supported Microchip ENC28J60 and Wiznet W5100 (officially supported by Arduino).

Portable, no installation.

Arduino Control Center

Software for controlling Arduino inputs and outputs over serial or network with charts, notifications, embedded web server, portable.