An example of code in text. With LabVIEW, this same thing is achieved with graphics
LabVIEW is the name of a platform that allows the design of computer systems , promoting the development of measurements, tests and control tasks. This is a systems engineering program.
Graphic programming
The term LabVIEW is an acronym that comes from the English expression Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench . The system was devised by National Instruments Corp. , an American company.
One of the main features of LabVIEW is that it presents a graphical approach to programming . This way, the developer can clearly see the different aspects of their application, such as measurements and hardware configuration. Visualization, on the other hand, facilitates the integration of measurement hardware, regardless of the vendor in question.
The first version of LabVIEW was released in 1986 and was intended for use on MAC . Over time, versions for Windows , GNU/Linux and UNIX emerged. Currently, there are many development environments that include similar systems for programming with graphical elements.
LabVIEW Applications
With LabVIEW you can create data analysis algorithms and develop user interfaces. Although initially the platform was oriented towards instrument control (what is known as electronic instrumentation ), its scope has now been extended to include communications and embedded programming, for example.
Thanks to LabVIEW, the measurement of physical systems with actuators and sensors can be carried out; devise industrial equipment; create production test systems; contrast an electronic design; and establish a wireless communication structure. At a general level, LabVIEW encourages professionals from different disciplines to approach computing and helps minimize the time required to develop any kind of application.
Contrast with traditional code
Graphic programming has been making a space for itself in the application development market for many years, with increasing success. Although it is not yet possible to reproduce any program made in a traditional way in this way, the gap that separates both methods decreases day by day. Not all programmers want to leave text behind, but those who have never tried it are more likely to appreciate the supposed immediacy of nodes.
And here we come to an essential term in this case: nodes . Each graphical programming environment can call them differently, and in fact LabVIEW calls them controls . These are the smallest units of the code, which roughly speaking we can say that they represent what are traditionally known as variables . To make them useful it is necessary to add operators and functions, so that their data is processed and converted into information.
Our mind assimilates images faster than text
The LabVIEW interface is very modest in its design, focusing on functionality rather than aesthetics. At first glance, it reminds us of an application from the mid-90s. However, it offers us a considerable amount of elements to build our programs in a couple of clicks and in the most intuitive way possible . For example: if we have a block of code and we want it to be executed several times, just look for a loop structure in the floating panel and draw a rectangle that encloses said code.
One of the characteristics of text code is the length it usually reaches, especially in large programs. This can make them difficult to read if the blocks are not organized properly, or if too many fragments are repeated instead of being converted into functions that can be called whenever they are needed. Visualizing a project made in LabVIEW is easier , even if it has not been optimized.