Language to learn alongside labview for long term employability?

[Shiv0921]

I don’t have a coding background but have been working solely with labview for a few years now and want for this to be my career. However someone recently pointed out to me that it would be prudent to learn another language in case anything ever happens to labview.

I particularly like what labview is used for, so can anyone recommend to me another language or programming environment to learn where it’s applications would be the same as labview? I’d want my background knowledge in designing these types of programs, and being able to be close to scientific research, to remain utilised even if I were changing languages.

I’ve tried googling this but it’s not clear. C/C++ comes up repeatedly but I can’t tell if this is more for core computer programming and isn’t a common choice for acquisition & control.

Thanks.

[LLindenbauer]

A few points:

• Take a look at the code examples of your favorite devices (e.g. an FTDI chip?) - what languages are they written in?
• Take a problem you are familiar with and try to solve it in a different (programming) environment.
• Once you get the hang of one language, switching to a new one should not be hard.
• Scientific research generally likes fast prototyping that is fault-tolerant, easy to debug and easy to teach the next student along the way. C and C++ are neither of these things.
• I don't know one person that regretted learning some python.

[MaSta]

You surely mean another programming language, though LabVIEW isn't one. As far as know, there is no other graphical programming IDE such as LabVIEW. 

Regarding programming languages, there are a lot, but Python is kinda prolific these days. Don't  know why. C# fails to be efficient and fast, maybe Python is better? LabVIEW is close to C/C++.

[santo_13]

If you want to be a software engineer, you need to get mainstream with the industry demand - like C# or the web technologies like JS, Angular, etc.,

If you want to be an Engineer who can write applications, you can expand your knowledge to Python and from there you can expand on-need.

[Yamaeda]

If you're talking about the test & measurement realm, it's basically LabVIEW, Python and C++/C# with measurement studio.

Though, to make complete Test programs i find i also need to know SQL and other stuff anyway, so i'd start there.

[crossrulz]

Python seems to be making a lot of progress in the Test & Measurement field.  But it is a scripting language (not compiled) and GUIs are a major PITA to create.

Learning C/C++ would be good if you want to work on a RaspberryPI, Arduino, or some other microcontroller.

I'm starting to look into Rust as it appears to be a major up and coming language.