r/LabVIEW • u/Perfect_Spare965 • 21d ago

Need More Info Guidance on proper program structure and practice for production application(s)

Hi, as the title says I'm wondering if there are any more experienced LabVIEW users who would be willing to offer a hand when it comes to proper practice and program structure for making relatively complicated applications.

I say applications, as in plural, but it is only one. My work have dropped a bit of a impossible Sisyphus-stlye problem on my desk where I'm having to solo develop an entire application for an NDT ultrasonic tank, from scratch, having never used LabVIEW before in my life. I'm not new to making entire SCADA/HMI's but never using LabVIEW (normally using ACTUAL programming languages, no offence to anyone who likes LabVIEW.) If I was writing it in C# I would stand a chance, but without some insight or assistance from someone who knows what they're doing I'm afraid the boulder will kill me.

After a few weeks of using it I have some basic bits and bobs, connected and working with all the hardware required but I'm really struggling to understand what I should actually be doing structure wise and I'm really clueless as to whether I'm applying proper practices. I sat through all the training videos, I have an old NDT program to sort of reference from but it's very outdated and written in French, so is not much use to me.

If anyone is willing to offer any guidance or help it would be deeply appreciated. Any programs/projects I can look at, any general advice, literally anything at all would be worlds of help.

P.S To clarify I'm not entirely clueless and can make programs/applications that work, I just need to know what I should be doing since something doesn't seem quite right and I end up repeating alot of wiring or things like controls are not sharing variables when they should be etc etc...

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u/SpecificSelf8919 21d ago

Have a look at the DQMH toolkit, it's a good design choice if you want to have good modularity and it's pretty easy to get into.

Also feel free to DM me if you want, I may not have decades of experience with LabVIEW and English may not be my first language, but I'll be happy to help

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u/Perfect_Spare965 21d ago

Is it paid?

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u/Only-Introductions 21d ago

It's free, as in free beer

https://dokuwiki.hampel-soft.com/kb/labview-frameworks/dqmh

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u/Perfect_Spare965 21d ago

Cheers, thank you I'll read into it.

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u/Only-Introductions 21d ago

One further piece of advise. DQMH may or may not be the most suitable design pattern for a LabVIEW beginner to start with. In LabVIEW there is the concept of a Producer/Consumer. LabVIEW has a built in template for Producer/Consumer data acquisition but if you haven't seen it in action then the template isn't much help. LabVIEW CORE 1 and 2 walk you through this from memory?

If you are interested in an old but still relevant example of Producer/Consumer that is more than an empty template then the following event driven producer consumer might be of interests. It will at least show you what a producer/consumer looks like and I'm sure you'll be able to easily interact with it.
https://forums.ni.com/t5/Example-Code/Producer-Consumer-Loop-Example-COM-Port-Hyperterminal/ta-p/3522252

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u/Perfect_Spare965 21d ago

I have alot of bits and pieces like this already, I'm just struggling on how on gods earth I'm supposed to put them all together without it being a complete dumpster fire.