The Evolution of LabVIEW
LabVIEW的演变
In 1983, National Instruments began to search for a way to minimize the time needed to program instrumentation systems. Through this effort, the LabVIEW virtual instrument concept evolvedintuitive front panel user interfaces combined with an innovative block diagram programming methodology to produce an efficient, software-based graphical instrumentation system.
在1983年, 国家仪器公司(National Instruments或NI)开始试图开发出一种途径来缩短编制仪控系统(instrumentation systems)所需要的时间. 通过这个努力, LabVIEW虚拟仪器概念发展出了直观的前面板用户界面, 并结合开创性的框图编程方法, 产生了高效率的, 基于软件的, 图形的仪控系统.
LabVIEW version 1 was released in 1986 on the Macintosh only. Although the Mac was not widely used for measurement and instrumentation applications, its graphical nature best accommodated the LabVIEW technology until the more common operating systems could support it.
LabVIEW版本1发布于1986年, 并且仅能在Macintosh机器上使用. 尽管Macintosh计算机不是广泛地应用在测量与仪控系统上, 但它的图形特性使得LabVIEW技术可以被广泛地认可直到有更多的通用操作系统可以支持它。
By 1990, National Instruments had completely rewritten LabVIEW, combining new software technology with years of customer feedback. More importantly, LabVIEW 2 featured a compiler that made execution speeds of VIs comparable with programs created in the C programming language. The United States Patent Office issued several patents recognizing the innovative LabVIEW technology.
到1990年, 国家仪器公司已经完全改写了LabVIEW, 结合了新的软件技术和多年来的用户反馈情况. 更重要地, LabVIEW 2 有了编译器, 那使得VIs的运行速度可以比拟与用C语言编写的程序. 美国专利局颁发了几个专利认可了革命性的LabVIEW技术.
As other graphical operating systems appeared, National Instruments ported the now mature LabVIEW technology to the other platforms: PCs and workstations. In 1992, they introduced LabVIEW for Windows and LabVIEW for Sun based on the new portable architecture.
当其它的图形操作系统出现后, 国家仪器公司立即对接当时已趋成熟的LabVIEW技术到其它平台上: 个人计算机与工作站上. 在1992年, 他们发布了分别基于Windows和Sun新的便携式操作系统的LabVIEW.
LabVIEW 3 arrived in 1993 for Macintosh, Windows, and Sun operating systems. LabVIEW 3 programs written on one platform could run on another. This multiplatform compatibility gave users the opportunity to choose the development platform while ensuring that they could run their VIs on other platforms (consider that this was a couple of years before Java was introduced). In 1994, the list of LabVIEW-supported platforms grew to include Windows NT, Power Macs, and HP workstations. 1995 brought about an adaptation to Windows 95.
LabVIEW 3 出现在1993年, 分别有Macintosh, Windows, 和 Sun 等操作系统的不同版本. LabVIEW 3的程序可在一个平台上编写而在另一个平台上运行. 多平台兼容性给用户更多的机会选择开发平台, 以确保他们能够在不同的平台上运行自己的VIs (要考虑到那是在Java被开发出来前的好几年!!!). 1994年, LabVIEW所支持的平台成长到可以包括Windows NT, Power Macs, 和HP工作站等. 1995年又带来了兼容Windows 95的版本.
LabVIEW 4, released in 1996, featured a more customizable development environment so users could create their own workspace to match their industry, experience level, and development habits. In addition, LabVIEW 4 added high-powered editing and debugging tools for advanced instrumentation systems, as well as OLE-based connectivity and distributed execution tools.
LabVIEW 4, 发布于1996年, 增加了更多的自定义的开发环境特性, 使得用户能够创建他们自己的工作空间以适合他们的行业, 经验水平, 和开发习惯. 另外, LabVIEW 4增加了高性能的编辑与调试工具用以配合高级的仪控系统, 又如基于OLE的互通性和分布式执行工具。
LabVIEW 5 and 5.1 (in 1999) continued to improve on the development tool by introducing a built-in web server, a dynamic programming and control framework (VI Server), integration with ActiveX, and easy sharing of data over the Internet with a protocol called DataSocket.[1] The undo feature taken for granted in most programs finally was implemented.
LabVIEW 5和LabVIEW 5.1(1999年) 持续改进了开发工具, 通过引入内置的网络服务器 (web server), 动态编程和控制框架 (VI Server), ActiveX集成, 在互联网上通过称之为DataSocket.[1]的协议实现了数据共享. 在其他大多语言程序中的”undo”特性也最终被实现.
[1] The DataSocket protocol has been succeeded by the NI Publish and Subscribe Protocol (NI-PSP). See Chapter 16 for more information about NI-PSP and the DataSocket VIs.
[1]数据槽(DataSocket)协议已经被NI的发布与订阅协议(NI Publish and Subscribe Protocol, NI-PSP) 所继承. 见第16章获得更多的关于NI-PSP和DataSocket VIs的信息.
In 2000, LabVIEW 6 (sometimes called 6i) introduced support for the Linux open source operating system. It also introduced a new suite of 3-D controls; appropriately at a time when the computing industry was discovering that style did matter (spearheaded by the introduction of Apple's iMac and G4 cubes). LabVIEW 6 does a very impressive job of providing both an easy and intuitive programming interface (especially for non-programmers), as well as supporting a slew of advanced programming techniques, such as object-oriented development, multithreading, distributed computing, and much more. Don't let the graphical nature of LabVIEW fool you: LabVIEW is a tool that can easily rival C++ or Visual Basic as a development toolwith the benefit, as thousands have discovered, that it's much more fun!
2000年, LabVIEW 6 (有时称之为LabVIEW 6i) 被引入支持Linux开源操作系统中. 它也引入了一种新套件: 3-D控件; 恰逢其时, 计算机行业当时发现这种风格很流行 (充当前锋的是Apple's iMac 和 G4 cubes). LabVIEW 6做了一个非常令人印象深刻的工作, 它提供既简易又直观的编程接口, (尤其对于非专业编程人员), 同时也支持大量的高级编程技术, 诸如面向对象的开发, 多线程, 分布式计算等等. 不要让LabVIEW的图形特性愚弄了你: LabVIEW是一种工具, 它作为一种开发工具和它自身的益处,可以容易地与C++或者Visual Basic相匹敌, 正如成千上万的用户已经发现的, 还要更加有趣!
In 2001, LabVIEW 6.1 introduced event-oriented programming, remote web control of LabVIEW, Remote Front Panels, VISA support for communication with infrared devices (IrDA), and other improvements.
2001年, LabVIEW 6.1引入了面向事件编程, LabVIEW远程网络控制, 远程前面板, VISA支持红外设备通信, 和其它的改进.
Also in 2001, LabVIEW Real-Time (LabVIEW RT) was introduced, allowing VIs developed in LabVIEW to be downloaded to the RT Engine of National Instruments RT Series devices and run in real time. (We will discuss LabVIEW RT more, later in this chapter.)
同在2001年, LabVIEW实时模块 (LabVIEW Real-Time或者LabVIEW RT) 被引入, 允许在LabVIEW上开发的VIs可以被下载到National Instruments RT系列设备的实时引擎 (RT Engine)上并被实时地运行. (我们将会在后面的章节中讨论更多的LabVIEW RT)
In 2003, LabVIEW 7.0 (sometimes called 7 Express) introduced several new features for both beginning and advanced users. Most notable are the Express Technologies: a framework of tools designed to get beginning LabVIEW users up and running quickly by providing easily configurable, ready-to-use subVIs and functions. For the advanced user, LabVIEW 7.0 extended the functionality of the event structure to include user-defined events as well as a dynamic event registration frameworkno longer was the event structure bound only to the events on the Front Panel of its containing VI. Other new additions included the Tree Control and the SubPanel, for creating more flexible and powerful user interfaces. And, several editor enhancements like the snap-to-grid, resizing tool, grab-handles, as well as many others made using LabVIEW all the more enjoyable.
2003年, LabVIEW 7.0 (有时被称为LabVIEW 7 Express) 引入了几个新的特性针对于新用户和高级用户. 最显著的是Express技术: 一种工具框架, 被设计出来使LabVIEW用户很快地上手并可运行, 通过提供简单可配置的, 即时可使用的子程序(subVIs) 和函数. 对于高级用户, LabVIEW 7.0延伸了事件结构的功能性, 使其包括了用户定义事件和动态事件注册框架, 事件结构不再是局限于在它所包含的VI的前面板上的事件. 其它新附加的特性包括树形控件(Tree Control)和子面板(Sub Panel), 都是为了创建更灵活的, 更强大的用户界面. 并且, 个别的编辑器增强功能如对齐网格(snap-to-grid), 握柄(grab-handles), 和其它许多的特性都使得使用LabVIEW变的令人愉快.
Also in 2003, the LabVIEW PDA and LabVIEW FPGA modules were introduced. LabVIEW PDA module allowed creating LabVIEW programs that could run on PalmOS and PocketPC. LabVIEW FPGA allowed creating LabVIEW programs that could run on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FGPA) of National Instrument's FGPA devices. (We will discuss LabVIEW PDA and LabVIEW FPGA more, later in this chapter.)
同样在2003年, LabVIEW PDA和LabVIEW FPGA模块被开发出来. LabVIEW PDA模块允许LabVIEW程序可以运行在PalmOS 和PocketPC等便携式数据助手(掌上电脑)上. LabVIEW FPGA模块可以使得LabVIEW程序可以运行在NI的现场可编程门阵列设备上.
In 2004, LabVIEW 7.1 added VISA support for communication with Bluetooth devices, native Radio Buttons control, a Navigation Window, and many other useful features, including the evolution of Express Technologies, such as the Timed Loop that provides precision timing on real-time and FPGA targets as well as synchronization capabilities.
2004年, LabVIEW 7.1增加了VISA对蓝牙设备的支持, 本地单选按钮控件, 导航窗口, 和许多其它的特性, 包括发展了的Express技术, 诸如定时循环, 提供了精确的定时在实时和FPGA目标上的同步能力。
In 2005, LabVIEW 8 introduced the Project Explorer, an IDE-style workspace that allows developers to manage the development of a Virtual Instrumentation system. A LabVIEW project can contain VIs, hardware resources, and configurations, as well as build and deployment rules. LabVIEW 8 also added support for Project Library components, niceties such as right-click menus and drag-and-drop, and custom controls with edit-time behavior.
2005年, LabVIEW 8引入了项目浏览器, 集成开发环境 (IDE) 风格的工作区可使得开发者管理控制虚拟仪控系统的开发. 一个LabVIEW项目可包括VIs, 硬件资源, 和配置, 也包括了构造和部署规则. LabVIEW 8也增加了对项目库的支持, 诸如右击菜单和拖放, 和自定义控件及其编辑行为。
