Programmers License

[ErnieH]

One of the problems with LabVIEW is it is so different than other programming methods. Users spend a lot of time and resources learning to do things in it that does not enhance their careers outside of the environment. If I leave my company, I would like to still use LabVIEW for day to day things. If a company is not familiar with LabVIEW, it is doubtful they will pay the price just to increase my productivity.  To protect the investment in time and energy of the user community, I suggest they create a new license that protects the rights of the people that have made them a successful company. Plus it gives them the rights to enhance their income by legally freelancing. Plus, if you are hired somewhere else that does not have LabVIEW, you can legally show them how it can improve their business. If they are not interested, you can still use it for your own personal use. I think it is a win-win situation and helps the user’s career in the long run. It would also encourage users to keep their package up to date.  A rough draft of what this may look like follows.

Programmer License

-          For a onetime fee (or percentage of cost), registered users can purchase a new license to use the software package registered to them through their company for their use as a private person, including freelancer, contracting, etc outside of the company.

-          Package will have a separate serial number registered to the user and will be eligible for updates purchased for the parent license.

-          When the person leaves the company, they shall have the right to use the software as an independent person or contractor. If the person is hired by a company, they may use the software for personal projects but not for general distribution throughout the new company, unless the company purchases a new license. The rights to use as an independent contractor are still valid however. The personal version can then be linked to the new purchase, if desired.  Updates will not be provided when the person leaves the parent company.

-          User will have the right to use all versions up to the latest eligible version without any restrictions except the direct employment clause. If a person is employed temporarily, as contractor, etc, they retain the rights to use up to the latest version they were eligible for development.

-          Thanks you for using LabVIEW.

[RavensFan]

What you are asking for is essentially things already asked for in these ideas.

Noncommercial Hobby/Home license for LabVIEW

Free, General Programming LabVIEW Edition

[ErnieH]

Not at all. This is totally different. This for current users only. And I am not asking for it for free.

[RavensFan]

The second one was a very recent idea that was asking for free and was considered a duplicate of the first one.

The first one is the more relevant one where an inexpensive version of LabVIEW was wanted for pretty much the same reasons you are asking for here.

You'll see that the first one was considered a very popular idea (405 kudoes), but was ultimately declined.  It had a lot of good commentary in there.  What you are asking for is essentially the same as that.  Perhaps just providing arguments for it in a different way.

Don't get me wrong.  I like your idea of having a means to continuing programming in LabVIEW even if job circumstances change.  I'm just saying this idea has already been proposed and well discussed.

[ErnieH]

I guess we will agree to disagree. I am saying I ( and probably others) am willing to pay a one time fee based on the package I have registered to keep me legal if I lose my job AND allow to to freelance if I so choose. I am not asking for a free package or even a cheap package. It is more of an enhancement and also some protection to the long suffering and much maligned LabVIEW users who have invested so much to make NI a successful company. Basically, I am willing to invest now to protect my future career from taking a productivity hit if I have to change tools.

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you are going to freelance, I would expect you to pay the exact same fee as every other freelancer - in other words, the full license fee. Not sure why you would expect such a competitive advantage.

[ErnieH]

Well Dennis, I can see your point. I did not mean to offend anyone. My idea was mainly to protect the end users who have invested years into the product when they lose their employment. It is doubtful if this will make a meaningful impact. Still I think it is a good idea. If others don't agree, so be it. Since I do everything in LabVIEW, it would help me bridge the gap if I had to change jobs.

[SteveChandler]

Even if this were acceptable to NI I don't think my company would find it acceptable. It would mean that I personally gain from purchases that I make for my company leading to a conflict of interest. It just seems like a legal can of worms.

[ErnieH]

Gentlemen, well played.  You see through me.  Using LabVIEW for 16 years.  Buying the updates every version since 3.1. Using only NI parts even though they are typically more expensive. Teaching others at my plant how to use it. All so I can pay a few thousand dollars of my own money to protect the investment in time and effort required to become proficient in LabVIEW, since these skills are worth little otherwise.  And my plan might have worked if not for the Knights and Zealots who defend the board.  Again, gentlemen, I salute you.

[SteveChandler]

Maybe NI should reward those who have proven their commitment by taking the certification exams with a discount. The discount is higher the higher the level and number of recertifications. Thoughts?

[ErnieH]

I am not a big fan of the certifications. I did the CLAD. Looked at the CLD, but decided it was not worth it (to me, personal opinion only). Paying the vendor to certify me could also be considered a conflict of interests, as well as paying to attending elaborate sales events masked as training. If you could not easily pass the CLD after using it for a couple of years,  you should not even be programming.  I have seen people in my company go to one of the sales seminars, get excited about it, and buy a package. Most never even use it after they figure out there really is a learning curve and you still have to know how to program.

That being said, I love to use LabVIEW. I use it every day . It is the only programming tool I use now. I create complex, reliable,  high speed systems using their software and hardware. The issue is, it is a single source software and hardware, especially since I use the FPGA and Real-time  almost exclusively anymore. The skills I have worked hard to acquire are only useable from this one vendor. So I am pretty much locked in. It would take me a while to go back to the old hardware design and programming tools. I would imagine I will use it for the rest of my career, because especially on the FPGA and real-time side, it keeps getting better and better. Yes, I want more. Yes, I feel they forget who their customers are sometimes. And yes, I am really miffed about the way they market Sbrio, which I feel is probably the best hardware product that they have come out with to date. But, overall, if I lost my current position, I would find a position using LabVIEW even if I have to buy it myself.  Its what I do, other that grouching on boards occasionally and using my well honed sarcastic wit.