I think used labview back in 2012 during my PhD rotation. I made a lick sensor and a water release device for mice for an assay in which the mice has to lick for water only on receiving a specific cue. (The idea was to see the multi-signal integration in the brain.) I used labview to sync the three hardware systems - the cue provider, the link sensor, and water release device for both training and detection. I loved the GUI programming. Much easier than the text programming for sure.