LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench) is a system-design platform created by National Instruments. It constitutes a graphical program development environment. The graphical language used in this platform is called “G”. In general, developing a program using LabVIEW includes working with different kinds of graphic icons, responsible for different functions. This feature can be very helpful for users who are less familiar with programming, because beginners can just easily drag and drop the elements represented by graphics, which are really intuitive, and thus create their own programs. LabVIEW supports many popular interfaces, such as GPIB, RS-232, IrDA, Bluetooth and Ethernet.
MATLAB (matrix laboratory), developed by MathWorks, is the name of a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and programming language as well. Using this language, the syntax of which is similar to C programming language, it is possible to create a functional program which operates in MATLAB environment. MATLAB was designed for numerical computing which includes matrix manipulations, plotting of both functions and data. What more, you may use this tool to draw 2D and 3D graph of a function, visualize results of calculations as static or animated graphics, implement algorithms, create user interfaces, and work with programs in other languages. It is also possible to connect MATLAB with an external device (a meter) using a port, in order to collect data that can be further processed. MATLAB has a wide range of supported file extensions: M-files (*.m), MEX-files (*.mex), MAT-files (*.mat), *.fig, *.p, *.mlappinstall and it supports other programming languages such as C, C++, Java and Fortran. One of the most significant advantages of MATLAB is the fact that it has a lot of library functions and toolboxes, and also provides possibilities of development by adding your own functions.
Average price of purchasing LabVIEW Professional license is 4000$, but you can also buy cheaper Student License for less than 50$.
A license for MATLAB costs about 150$ per seat for a stand alone license for a Designated Computer, if it is for network, the price is higher than 1200$ for 12 machines /6 concurrent users and 200$ per additional 2 machines/1 concurrent user. If you are a student, license for you will cost about 90-100$.
Below, there is a short comparison of most important features available in both environments:
MATLAB (matrix laboratory), developed by MathWorks, is the name of a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and programming language as well. Using this language, the syntax of which is similar to C programming language, it is possible to create a functional program which operates in MATLAB environment. MATLAB was designed for numerical computing which includes matrix manipulations, plotting of both functions and data. What more, you may use this tool to draw 2D and 3D graph of a function, visualize results of calculations as static or animated graphics, implement algorithms, create user interfaces, and work with programs in other languages. It is also possible to connect MATLAB with an external device (a meter) using a port, in order to collect data that can be further processed. MATLAB has a wide range of supported file extensions: M-files (*.m), MEX-files (*.mex), MAT-files (*.mat), *.fig, *.p, *.mlappinstall and it supports other programming languages such as C, C++, Java and Fortran. One of the most significant advantages of MATLAB is the fact that it has a lot of library functions and toolboxes, and also provides possibilities of development by adding your own functions.
Average price of purchasing LabVIEW Professional license is 4000$, but you can also buy cheaper Student License for less than 50$.
A license for MATLAB costs about 150$ per seat for a stand alone license for a Designated Computer, if it is for network, the price is higher than 1200$ for 12 machines /6 concurrent users and 200$ per additional 2 machines/1 concurrent user. If you are a student, license for you will cost about 90-100$.
Below, there is a short comparison of most important features available in both environments:
