GLA Summit

Functional Global Variables (FGVs) are a common LabVIEW design pattern for sharing data while encapsulating state and avoiding traditional global variables. Although simple and effective for many applications, they can become a bottleneck as systems grow in size and complexity.

This presentation explains what FGVs are, the problems they solve, and recommended usage practices. It also explores their limitations, particularly regarding scalability, maintainability, and parallel performance, before introducing alternative architectures better suited for larger and more demanding applications. Attendees will gain practical guidance on when FGVs are the right choice and when they are not.