[Mr.G]

I have been programming assembly line test machines for 12 years and have used many languages and hardware: C, PLC, Flowchart, BASIC, and LabVIEW. I have also been programming FIRST robots for 6 years.

Here are my opinions:

Pros:
LabVIEW integrates with other programming software nicely. I.E, you can integrate C routines into a LabVIEW routine, so you can reuse code. It also comunicates with almost anything.

LabVIEW has hands down the best hardware that I have used in all areas. Reliability, Support, Integration, and at a pretty good cost.

LabVIEW is the easiest to teach if you have no experience like students do. Also, being a visual program I think it will appeal to the students more.

I think the current C program is overwhelming for the students the way it currently is laid out. All the extra programming that is in the current FRC code for interface to the field can be put into a single sub IV. Out of sight and out of mind. A’ man.

Students can take a piece of LabVIEW code and prototype it all by itself in a simple fashion, get it working on the pc, and then integrate it in to the main code with little help. Not having to know the whole code.

Cons:
LabVIEW is not very common except in testing equiptment.
Software licensee is expensive. (FIRSTer's get it free though)

Note: Our team has been unable to engage the students completely in programming in the 6 years I have been in it. I think LabVIEW is a good way to go, it is very easy to learn. I think a lot of people that are talking negative about it haven’t programmed in it. I.E. everyone hates change.

LabVIEW is good change for FIRST. I can't see things getting any worse, only better.