Graphical program which includes an I/O node for hardware abstraction

A system and method for creating a graphical program utilizing one or more input/output (I/O) nodes. An I/O node may be displayed in a first graphical program, where the I/O node may include associated generation code for programmatically generating execution-time code associated with the I/O node in the first graphical program. First input may be received to select a first I/O source or target corresponding to the first I/O node, e.g., from various supported hardware resources, and the associated generation code may be executed to programmatically generate or modify the execution-time code, e.g., at compilation or prior to execution of the first graphical program, to provide I/O to or from the first I/O source or target.