But, now in LabVIEW 8.5 you really can create a Feedback Node that is not owned by any loop! The screenshot below, shows an example of this.

It’s so beautifully simple

One the reasons that NIWeek 2007 was the Best NIWeek Ever was that during the NIWeek 2007 Alliance Day keynote, NI showed a slide called “The LabVIEW Community Online” (shown above) which included JKI’s logo! This slide displayed the logos of various LabVIEW community websites, including discussion forums, blogs, etc. I was extremely honored to see JKI’s logo included on the slide since we have long been focused on promoting and participating in the LabVIEW community.

What makes this somewhat interesting is that JKI is a company that provides consulting services around LabVIEW and other National Instruments hardware and software products. But, in addition to our work, we are extremely active in the LabVIEW blogosphere, discussion forums, open source community, and local LabVIEW user group meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, the LabVIEW community is a core part of JKI. Let me explain.

JKI was founded in 2002 when I started working as an independent LabVIEW consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. One of JKI’s very first customers met me at a San Francisco Bay Area LAVA group meeting where I had been regularly presenting and participating. This contact evolved into one of JKI’s best long-term customers (we have worked with them on and off for over 5 years, now) and played a huge role in providing a solid foundation upon which JKI has been able to grow its business.

I got to know two of JKI’s senior engineers, Michael Aivaliotis and Philippe Guerit, through participation in OpenG and the LAVA discussion forums. After working with each other on various OpenG projects, we found an opportunity to work together at JKI. Philippe and Michael are an integral part of JKI’s team and a huge part of our ongoing success.

Additionally, in 2004, Jeffrey Travis contacted me and asked me if I was interested in co-authoring the 3rd edition of “LabVIEW for Everyone“. I met Jeffrey through our involvement in OpenG and Info-LabVIEW. If it were not for my involvement in the LabVIEW community, I would not have received this invitation.

JKI is actively working hard to find more ways to be involved with and promote the LabVIEW community. We do this because we enjoy being a part of this community and want to see it grow. Also, there are incredible opportunities that arise from participation in the LabVIEW community — you meet potential customers, colleagues, and build a professional network that enables business success.

I’m not telling you all of this to convince you that participation in the LabVIEW community is a guarantee for professional success, but rather to reinforce the fact that it has rewards which are varied but incredibly hard to quantify. In JKI’s case, it has contributed to attracting great customers, talented engineers, and book offers, as well as recognition during an NIWeek keynote. Yes, community participation takes a lot of time, but it is undoubtedly worth it — in addition to the satisfaction of making friends and helping others learn and use LabVIEW, you are establishing yourself in a professional community where opportunities abound.

Enter “SuperFunkyPrivateSpecialSecretForumStuff=LAVA” into your LabVIEW.ini file and you will see the LabVIEW Advanced Virtual Architects (LAVA) logo on your LabVIEW 8.5 splash screen

[UPDATE] Here is the t-shirt that inspired the easter egg (order your own LAVA t-shirt, here — and many more styles, here.):

Want to find more LabVIEW easter eggs? Check out the this page on the LabVIEW Wiki.

(Here’s me and several of my LAVA buddies in the front row at NIWeek 2006)

Now, you’re probably asking yourself, “What’s so cool about being in the front row?” Well, I’m glad you asked:

• Being close to the loudspeakers really keeps you awake (which is useful after a night of fun on 6th Street).
• You can actually see the keynote speakers and presentations without needing to look at the big screen video display).
• You can take great photographs and video of the keynotes for posting to the NIWeek blog and photo gallery.
  
• You are in a great spot to stalk find the keynote speakers (after the keynote ends), to get them to sign a copy of their book for you.
• You’re very likely to appear in photographs and video used by NI to market NIWeek, such as the one shown above.
• When you raise your hand to volunteer to come up on stage and show off your LabVIEW Dance Dance Revolution skills, you have a much better chance of being picked. (Ain’t that right, Captain?)
  
• You always know where to find your LAVA friends in a crowd of 2000 people.