Labview is a graphical programming system that is designed for data
acquisition, data analysis, and instrument control.
LabVIEW can run on a number of systems including PC Windows, Macintosh and
VXI systems, and is transportable from one system to another.
Programming an application in LabVIEW is very different from
programming in a text based language such as C or Basic.
LabVIEW uses graphical symbols (icons) to describe programming actions. Data flow
is ``wired" into a block diagram.
Since LabVIEW is graphical and based on a
windows type system it is often much easier to get started using it than a
typical language. Many engineers and scientists that would not normally
try to program an application can get usable output easily with LabVIEW.
LabVIEW programs are called virtual instruments (VIs) because
the appearance and operation imitate actual instruments. VIs may be used
directly by the user or as a subroutine (called subVI's) of a higher program
which enables a modular programming approach.
The user interface is called the front panel, because it simulates
the front panel of a physical instrument.
The front panel can contain knobs, push buttons, graphs, and other controls
and indicators. The controls can be adjusted using a mouse and keyboard,
and the changes indicated on the computer screen. The block diagram shows
the internal components of the program. The controls and indicators
are connected to other operators and program structures. Each program
structure has a different symbol and each data type (eg. integer, double-float etc)
has a different color.