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Next-generation LabView caters for non-programmers
National Instruments (NI) has announced new generation of its LabView engineering system design software which bridges the gap between configuration-based software and custom programming languages with a new approach to measurement automation.
The new LabView NXG 1.0 helps engineers to perform benchtop measurements and increase their productivity using new non-programming workflows to acquire and analyse data. These workflows simplify automation by building the necessary code behind the scenes. For instance, users can drag-and-drop a section of code equivalent to 50 lines of text-based code.
“Thirty years ago, we released the original version of LabView, designed to help engineers automate their measurement systems without having to learn the esoterica of traditional programming languages. LabView was the ‘non-programming’ way to automate a measurement system,” recalls Jeff Kodosky, NI’s co-founder, known as ‘the father of LabView.’
“For a long time, we focused on making additional things possible with LabView, rather than furthering the goal of helping engineers automate measurements quickly and easily,” he continues. “Now we are squarely addressing this with the introduction of LabView NXG, which we designed from the ground up to embrace a streamlined workflow. Common applications can use a simple configuration-based approach, while more complex applications can use the full open-ended graphical programming capability of the LabView language, G.”
LabView NXG has a re-engineered editor with functions that users have often requested. It improves programming productivity and extends the openness of LabView to integrate with a broader set of languages. The new capabilities are said to enhance interoperability with standards and communications protocols such as IEC 61131-3, OPC UA and the secure DDS messaging standard.
Users – both first-time and experienced – will have access to both LabView NXG 1.0 and LabView 2017. The new version of LabView will be the first in a series of fast-paced releases that will expand engineering capabilities from simple data acquisition applications to building complex test systems and smart machines.
NI has produced a table that compares NXG with Labview 2017.
