The invention provides a circular knitting machine, in particular a single or double cylinder hose knitting machine, wherein various operations, such as the advancement of the main drum (2), speed changing, needle selection, movement of the stitch-adjusting unit (3), etc. are controlled by an electronic programming unit instead of the traditional main chain. The electronic programming unit programmingly controls a series of electro-mechanical transducers, preferably solenoid valves and pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders (12, 23), which determine the required movements of the machine operational members (2, 3). The programming unit is operative at each revolution of the machine to receive drive pulses from a revolution transducer. A considerable constructional simplification and adaptability of the machine to different knitting programs is thus achieved.