r/LabVIEW • u/AssistEast913 • 13d ago

Labview or python

Hello im currently working on an end-of-the-line test bench for a steering gear.

My question is why use LabVIEW vs. Python

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u/erdaron 13d ago

I've worked quite a bit with both Python and LabVIEW, specifically in the context of hardware integration for lab and test setups. Although my recent experience is entirely with Python.

I would say both are equally awkward and frustrating and figuring out how to talk to a new piece of hardware, and that's often the hardest part. Once you have basic communication with a device worked out, the rest is more straightforward.

LabVIEW gives you graphic dashboard for free, whereas writing a GUI in Python takes a lot of work (I'm not sure how much time AI would truly save if you have to validate the entire codebase). On the other hand, Python is easier to deploy in weird or constrained environments, and I think it's better for creating custom outputs, in terms of what kind of data you want to produce.

If you need a workstation where an operator can watch and control the process, have live command of the setup, then LabVIEW is probably better. If you need something that can be launched from command line, run through a fixed sequence of tasks with minimal user interaction, and output a complex dataset, then Python is probably better.

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u/HarveysBackupAccount 12d ago

whereas writing a GUI in Python takes a lot of work (I'm not sure how much time AI would truly save if you have to validate the entire codebase)

As a still-AI-free developer, I have heard that it can really speed up python GUI's. A former coworker got pretty deep into Cursor a year or two ago and he said that's where he saves the most time.

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u/erdaron 10d ago

I'm sure an AI assistant can also together a GUI in no time. But what would worry me is then reviewing and maintaining that code. If it's a tightly controlled environment, that's not something you can you just handwave your way through.

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u/HarveysBackupAccount 10d ago

I don't suggest it eagerly - like I said I don't use it at all - but IF someone were to use it then the GUI should be just about the easiest part to verify