NI LabVIEW 2010 Optimizes Compiler for Faster Code Execution

By DE Editors

National Instruments has announced LabVIEW 2010, the latest version of the graphical programming environment for design, test, measurement and control applications.

LabVIEW 2010 is designed to deliver time savings with new features such as off-the-shelf compiler technologies that execute code an average of 20% faster, according to the company. With LabVIEW 2010, the compiler data flow intermediate representation has been further optimized, and Low-Level Virtual Machine (LLVM), an open source compiler infrastructure, has been added to the software’s compiler flow to accelerate code execution.

For field-programmable gate array (FPGA) users, LabVIEW 2010 delivers a new IP Integration Node that makes it possible to integrate any third- party FPGA IP into LabVIEW applications. It is compatible with the Xilinx CORE Generator. National Instruments also implemented more than a dozen new features suggested by lead users through the LabVIEW Idea Exchange, an online feedback forum.

Introduced in 1986, LabVIEW abstracts the complexity of programming by giving users drag-and-drop, graphical function blocks and wires that resemble a flowchart to develop their systems. LabVIEW offers integration with thousands of hardware devices, provides hundreds of built-in libraries and is scalable across multiple OSs.

With the release of LabVIEW 2010, National Instruments is introducing the LabVIEW Add-On Developer Program to give partners the opportunity to expand the platform and introduce custom functionality into LabVIEW. The program establishes an online marketplace as part of the updated LabVIEW Tools Network for developers to offer their free and paid toolkits and a location for LabVIEW users to browse, download, evaluate and purchase the add-ons. More than 50 add-ons from NI and third-party developers are available,  including code reuse libraries, templates, UI controls and connectors to other software packages. Additionally, LabVIEW users can use the VI Package Manager from JKI to connect directly to the LabVIEW Tools Network from their desktop and manage add-on installations and updates.

For more information, visit NI’s LabView site.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.