whether c knowledge is essential for Lab windows

[arulum83]

Is Knowledge of C Programming is 100% necessary for programming, debugging or editing the NI Lab Windows?

[GuenterMueller]

Definitely not. When I started in C, I learned by reading and by practicing (= using a compiler). You must practice if you want to become/stay a professional. So you can start with C at the same time as you start with CVI.
A good knowledge in C will make the start much smoother, though.
Regards, Guenter

[JGS]

Definitely yes.

But the same as the previous reply: you can start with C at the same time as you start with CVI. But after a short time with CVI, you will notice that building a user interface is the smallest part of the job. Programming the actions after hitting a button, and designing measurement procedures and take care of data storage will take more time. Even the starter - sketch a flow chart with functions together with inputs and output for each of the functions - will cost more time than building the user interface. And most of this will be programmed in basic ANSI C, with some help/additions from CVI.

So yes, you have to learn C for programming in Labwindows/CVI. And yes, you can learn both together. But also yes, start with some examples to learn C before you build a real (even simple) application. I started myself with 'Hello world' and was proud when I could send it to a 'string' that I intended as status field for messages; and even more when I did send it to a message popup. But still: you have to learn it.

I can think of only one exception: changing some defaults in an finished user interface or moving the buttons to a different position in the user interface.

[oldvaxguy]

Both yes and no.  I also agree with the previous members comments. Here is my experience.   CVI was my first "C" programming experience even though i have 20 plus years VAX systems level and Fortran experience.  NO:  But, some progamming skills are definetly needed.    YES: in that you need to know how to call functions and use pointers to pass data correctly.  But, CVI is defintely easier than C++ or any Microsoft C application.  In Microsoft you have to manage more of the user interface controls.  CVI places a easier wrapper around user interface controls.  CVI has replaced fortran as my language of choice for Q&D test app software.

[RobertoBozzolo]

In my opinion yes and no is the correct answer: it's true that you can learn C together with CVI, it's exactly the route I myself have followed when approaching CVI for the first time. But it's also true that this route will probably not be the fastest possible neither for C nor for CVI. Moreover, there are items covered by CVI and C in different ways and I felt a big confused for a while before understanding exactly the possibilities of both of them (as an example, consider printf / scanf as opposed to Fmt / Scan).

[dummy_decoy]

contrary to everyone's belief: CVI is a developpement environement, bundling a straight C compiler with a library of functions.

if you program using CVI, you are programming in C. so yes knowledge of C could be a great idea for programming using CVI...
but you don't need to be an expert: everybody needs a tool to start learning, and why not learn C using CVI ?

(people make the same mistake when talking about visual c++: visual c++ is NOT a language, it is a developpement environnement, coming with a set of libraries (mfc, atl, ...) and a straight c++ compiler !)