LabVIEW vs. Text-based language development times benchmarks

[labviewman1]

I am working on a six-sigma green belt project for my company. I would like to show a comparison of software development time savings using LabVIEW vs. a text-based language such as VB or C++. I understand that this is a subjective request and highly dependent on the project requirements as well as the experience of the developer. Does anyone know of any study or benchmark comparison that has been performed that I can quote? Such as, "it took me 6.5 hours to develop the task in LabVIEW and another programmer 22 hours to develop the same task in C++". I'm not aware of any real development time precedents that have been set using LabVIEW comparisons. So, the time savings estimate I will use in my report will be highly subjective from my own experiences. Having programmed in VB, C, and now in LabVIEW since 1996. My gut feeling tells me that I have seen at least a 3 to 4X time savings using LabVIEW vs a text-based language for developing test and automation projects. Some projects I've done have yielded as much as a 10X times savings, but over all I would say that 3 to 4X is a more realistic average. If I can get some time-estimate feed back from some of you I will average everyone's responses and use that for my subjective analysis to calculate theoretical cost savings in my report. If any of you have actually done some development time benchmark comparisons then please let me know. Maybe some of the champions out there may know of some study or benchmark that's been done.

Thanks in advance.

Roy (labview_man)

[jyang72211]

On a side note, how do you plan to execute this as a six-sigma project?  What kind of DMAIC tools would you have using?  

[billko]

All I know is it takes me two drag n drops and about ten mouse clicks to create a custom instrument driver.  😉

[_enigma_]

Hi Roy,

Have you looked through Case Studies at ni.com?  These can be useful for demonstrating the power of LabVIEW.

Regards,

Alexander M

Applications Engineer

National Instruments

[labviewman1]

I didn't find what I needed from the case studies. Can you cite a specific one that might contain a comparison between LV and a text-based programming language?

[_enigma_]

Hi Roy,

Hate to bounce you around here, but this is really more of a question for our Sales & Marketing guys.  I recommend you contact them directly by phone at (888) 280-7645 or by Email (click here).

Regards,

Alexander M

Applications Engineer

National Instruments

[Mark_Yedinak]

You may want to contact Elijah K. He is working on same data he may be able to share with you.

[altenbach]

It also depends on the complexity of the project.

For example if the project also involves tighly integrated custom code running on embedded and FPGA hardware, the advantages of developing in LabVIEW are even greater.