Pi + Windows 10 = LV Embedded for everyone?

[viSci]

Wondering what the implications are for the LV community...

[justingruenberg]

Since the rPi 2 is still running on ARM, nothing really changes.  

[Rolf Kalbermatter]

Since the rPi 2 is still running on ARM, nothing really changes.  

 

That might be a somewhat to categorical statement .

 

Windows 10 is supposed to bring the worlds of Windows Desktop, Windows RT and Windows Phone even closer together, although I still have to see that happening. As such there is at least for the Phone and RT variant a possibility to run on ARM. However I wonder how licensing will work with typical Windows license costs many times the price of the Pi hardware.

 

Of course the extra complication here is that LabVIEW for Windows is strictly x86/x64 so that won't help. You have a much higher chance to get the NI Linux RT kernel working on a Pi since it already supports Linux, so porting the NI Linux RT source tree to support the Pi hardware is "just" a smart pick and combine from the NI Linux RT sources and the Linux for RasPi sources.

[hooovahh]

One interesting comment that I wasn't aware of, is that Microsoft gives free copies of Windows to OEMs if it comes with a screen under the size of 9 inches.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5574146/microsoft-making-windows-free-on-devices-with-screens-under-nine

 

I'm guessing to stay competitive with embedded devices Microsoft might come up with a way to keep the OS free for devices like these.

 

EDIT:  So this could be a poor mans myRIO, with HDMI.  Very cool.

[chris754]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/raspberry-pi-2-on-sale/

 

Windows 10 will be supported and will come free.

[justingruenberg]

Here's some more info on Windows 10 for IoT devices.  This is basically the RT version that they were pushing before -- as in the Ars article it's "Windows without Windows applications."  Basically, to get LabVIEW running on this or deploying to it, is going to take support from NI. 

[Rolf Kalbermatter]

.... is going to take support from NI. 

 

For Windows RT yes, for Raspberry PI running Linux not necessarily. NI Linux RT is already ARM based. There might be problems since the NI Linux RT devices use an ARMv7A based chip while the Broadcom on the Raspberry Pi uses an ARMv6, but the CPU on the new model 2 also seems to support ARMv7. So even that might be working. The only two problems about this are:

 

1) It's going to be quite a bit of work to port the NI Linux RT sources to run spotless on the Raspberry Pi 2.

2) It's pretty unclear about the licensing implications for the LabVIEW RT parts. While the NI Linux RT kernel is fully open under the GNU license, which makes it fully legal to take it and make it run anywhere you want, this can't be said about the LabVIEW runtime on those targets and of course the many drivers such as DAQmx, NI VISA, NI RIO etc. Especially the RIO and VISA drivers are absolutely mandatory to make the LabVIEW runtime even work on a target and for the seamless integration into the LabVIEW development system.

[CraigC]

More about this in the News today.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/10/windows_10_iot_core_ships/

 

As a LabVIEW developer I am feeling that I am getting left behind when it comes to the internet of things.  I have a lot of LabVIEW  and LVRT experience too but nobody can justify current NI hardware and licence costs it currently takes in order to turn on a £0.5 light-bulb.

 

I have been looking into learning other Languages for the Pi/Pi2/websockets etc etc.  Been waiting around for a solution from NI for this for too long, time to move along... nothing to see here

 

Craig

Edited August 11, 2015 by CraigC