LabVIEW - or Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench, if you want to impress dinner guests - is a graphical programming language from National Instruments. Instead of writing lines of code, functions are arranged as blocks in a flow diagram, which makes it easier to visualize how data moves through the system. It is especially popular in testing, measurement and industrial automation, where it is used to rapidly prototype and control hardware.

What makes LabVIEW unique is its dataflow model: code executes when all required data is available, which makes it naturally parallel and efficient for real‑time applications. The language - actually called G - is typed and supports object-oriented programming, making it powerful despite its visual simplicity.

For anyone who likes building things that move, measure something, or blink in time with a sensor, LabVIEW is a language that literally lets you drag and drop your way to a solution. It's like LEGO for engineers - but with oscilloscopes and motor control.