What is labview?

[Nick44448]

I was just wondering what the heck labview is.  What does it do?  What is it good for?  I don't know but it seems kind of weird to me.  If someone could elaborate on this issure for me, i would like that.  Can you make applications with it or something.  If you can't, then that program sucks. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

This is a joke right? You've asked more than a dozen questions in the last month and apparently (at least according to the last couple of posts), are close to finishing an application. If you're getting frustrated with the lack of progress, give it some time. Like all programming languages, LabVIEW has a learning curve. Learning any programming language in a month and without the benefit of classes is tough. Personally, it took me a lot longer to write my first application in Fortran, Basic, C, Forth, Visual Basic, C++ (which still confuses me), etc., than it did with LabVIEW.

[wik]

LabVIEW is a very powerful programing environment.  Because of the graphical nature of LabVIEW, it is different than programing in any other language.  Yes, you can make applications.  The uses of LabVIEW are as diverse as the users.  For example, you can make anything from games to very useful and complex programs.  

Currently I am working as a summer intern at a major manufacturing company.  I am developing a gauge that will measure parts that we manufacture.  I am using LabVIEW to control my data acquisition equiptment, as well as provide motion control for a linear slide and a rotary indexer.  This is just one example of what LabVIEW can do.  I am sure that users that are much more advanced than myself could describe more complex and interesting things they are doing with LabVIEW, as I have barely scratched the surface in my limited exposure thus far.

I encourage you to use this discussin forum to your advantage if you are going to use LabVIEW.  Be respectful to the users, and they are a great resource.  I have learned a lot from them thus far.  As a side note, I am teaching myself LabVIEW as I go along; I did work through LabVIEW Basics I and Basics II. 

Continue to browse this forum and the LabVIEW Development Zone, and you will see that the possibilities are endless!

[altenbach]

Maybe you have some time over the weekend to do some easy reading. I would suggest

Is LabVIEW a general purpose programming language? by Jeff Kodosky.

Also hhere's another page with quite a collection of information.

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QUOTE: Can you make applications with it or something

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You probably wonder if you can make a "standalone" application that can run on a computer that does not have LabVIEW installed. Then answer is yes ...

BUT.... You need at least LabVIEW professional or higher. If you only have LabVIEW base or full, you need to purchase the application builder seperately.

The LabVIEW student edition also cannot build applications.

[Joe_H]

You are kiddding right. I mean you have LABVIEW and are close to getting your project completed. LABVIEW at times can be very frustrating I know we have all been there at times. LABVIEW is a very powerful tool that can do just about anything that visual c++ or basic can and 90% of the time you can do it much faster with LABVIEW. I hear frustration and anger in your post, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK US QUESTIONS. We monitor this forum everyday because we want to help people learn LABVIEW, not because we get paid to do so.

As for me I have most of my lab set up and ran with labview for anything from data acquisition to monitoring a spectrum analyzer for frequency, the things I have done here with labview have helped our development time and increased our production time and quality. Stay with it do not get so discouraged, There are some great books out there that can help you learn labview. The book that I used to help myself get familiar with labview was called Labview for everyone second edition, There are many resources for you questions and for your frustrations use them to your advantage. Every person (almost) here on this forum has been through what you are feeling LET US HELP.

Just my 2 cents