Type generic graphical programming

A non-transitory computer readable memory medium which stores:

• a first graphical data flow program, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type generic graphical data flow program;
• wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type;
• and
• wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types;
• and
• program instructions executable to:
• instantiate a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program;
• determine if two or more of the instances have same data types;
• and if two or more of the instances have the same data types, replace one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores a first graphical data flow program, wherein the first graphical data flow program includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, wherein the interconnected nodes visually indicate functionality of the first graphical data flow program, and wherein the first graphical data flow program is a data type generic graphical data flow program;
• wherein each of the nodes comprises at least one of an input or an output, and wherein for at least a first subset of the nodes, input(s) and/or output(s) for the first subset are not restricted to a specific data type;
• and
• wherein the first graphical data flow program is executable to perform the functionality for a plurality of different data types;
• and
• wherein the memory medium further stores program instructions executable by the processor to:
• instantiate a plurality of instances of the first graphical data flow program in a second graphical data flow program, wherein each instance is a data type-specific graphical data flow program;
• determine if two or more of the instances have same data types;
• and if two or more of the instances have the same data types, replace one or more of the instances with a reference to a particular instance of the first graphical data flow program with the same data types.