AFAIK, NI provides three ways of programming for the instruments they produce, they are:
- LabView, a graphical based programming
- LabWindows/CVI, a GUI programming based on C language
- Object Oriented Programming based language (C++, I am using MSVS2005)
You can see my desktop of these 3 “programming style:”
Programmers who used to code by writing programming syntax need to adapt the “programming style” if they choose the 1st method (graphical), and this is my reason to try all these methods by writing a small program for turning on a LED at line Port0/Line0, so that I could find the most comfortable and fastest way to develop a program.
I like the MSVS2005 programming environment because of the easiness provided by the IDE, rather than CVI which I am not used to it, but AFAIK, the MSVS2005 doesn’t provide a complete library compared to CVI and LabView 
and to my surprise I found in CVI sample code a goto syntax! oh..no
It looks like my whole program will be based on graphical programming, then I really need to design the states using FSM or statechart, otherwise it will be very difficult to debug the program, and oh yeah…documentation!!! Hope I am not lazy to do this
Use Labview for simple program and CVI/VSCPP for cômplex one, it will save your live. If you think Labview is too illogical, use a lot of Mathscript Node and Formula Node. I am struggling too in Labview, as a Fasilkom alumni, I only know C/C++.
I don’t know, I feel that despite the simplicity, I have to sacrifice the flexibility.
For example, when I have to do some 3D modeling on the surface for vision applications, I don’t think I can combine OpenGL with Labview, or if I want to add pattern recognition algorithm. Yes I know we can use DLL. But it will only add the headaches…
CVI is classic ANSI C, but at least it is more flexible and can do ANYTHING that Labview does.
IMHO Labview is best for Instrumentation/Measurement/Controls, but for tricky and complex software, it will be a nightmare.
Btw are you from FTUI ?
Yes CS unfortunately
and CS in our country is pure CS as they adopted the curriculum from American University. Here in France, CS usually called Industriel Informatique. They learn everything that EE does, such as DSP, instrumentation and control, plus hell lot of programming, so they are solid..
but fortunately I also have masters in Vision and Robotics because currently my work is related with Robotics and Instrumentation and my colleagues are mostly from EE.
Hmm its really difficult to imagine Labview can help me finish my job but lets just see…