15. A method comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) of a data processing device for editing components of a virtual instrument panel, the GUI including a panel layout area, a program dialog area, and an Input/Output (I/O) device library area, the panel layout area including one or more icons representing the components of the virtual instrument panel, the components of the virtual instrument panel associated with respective sections of code in a textual language program for executing the components of the virtual instrument panel, and including a first component represented by a first icon in the panel layout area that corresponds with a first section of code, the program dialog area displaying at least a portion of the textual language program, and the I/O device library area including I/O device icons representing interfaces to data sources; receiving through the GUI a user selection of an editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area that represents the first component in the virtual instrument panel; performing the editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area during execution of the components of the virtual instrument panel; programmatically performing a synchronized operation on the first section of code that corresponds to the editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area in response to performing the editing operation, the synchronized operation performed on the first section of code during execution of the components of the virtual instrument panel; programmatically adding a second section of code associated with a first I/O device icon to the program dialog area, in response to moving the first I/O device icon from the I/O device library area to the panel layout area; and programmatically adding a third section of code associated with a second I/O device icon to the program dialog area, in response to moving the second I/O device icon from the I/O device library area to the panel layout area, wherein the first and second I/O device icons are different, and the data sources include one or more of a physical data acquisition board, a physical instrument, or a memory location external to the data processing device.
15. A method comprising: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) of a data processing device for editing components of a virtual instrument panel, the GUI including a panel layout area, a program dialog area, and an Input/Output (I/O) device library area, the panel layout area including one or more icons representing the components of the virtual instrument panel, the components of the virtual instrument panel associated with respective sections of code in a textual language program for executing the components of the virtual instrument panel, and including a first component represented by a first icon in the panel layout area that corresponds with a first section of code, the program dialog area displaying at least a portion of the textual language program, and the I/O device library area including I/O device icons representing interfaces to data sources; receiving through the GUI a user selection of an editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area that represents the first component in the virtual instrument panel; performing the editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area during execution of the components of the virtual instrument panel; programmatically performing a synchronized operation on the first section of code that corresponds to the editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area in response to performing the editing operation, the synchronized operation performed on the first section of code during execution of the components of the virtual instrument panel; programmatically adding a second section of code associated with a first I/O device icon to the program dialog area, in response to moving the first I/O device icon from the I/O device library area to the panel layout area; and programmatically adding a third section of code associated with a second I/O device icon to the program dialog area, in response to moving the second I/O device icon from the I/O device library area to the panel layout area, wherein the first and second I/O device icons are different, and the data sources include one or more of a physical data acquisition board, a physical instrument, or a memory location external to the data processing device. 16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving through the GUI a user selection of an editing operation for the first icon in the panel layout area includes: receiving a selection of a deletion operation for the first icon in the panel layout area, further wherein the programmatically performing a synchronized operation on the first section of code includes: deleting the first section of code.