Advantages of MATLAB | Disadvantages of MATLAB

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of MATLAB programming. It mentions benefits or advantages of MATLAB and drawbacks or disadvantages of MATLAB.

Introduction:
MATLAB is programming language used for technical computing. It integrates computation, visualization and programming in easy to use environment. In this environment, problems and solutions are expressed in mathematical notations which are familiar. Typical uses of MATLAB are as follows.
• Math and computation
• Algorithm modeling and simulation
• Data analysis, exploration and visualization
• Scientific computations
• Application development using GUI
• Image processing applications

What is MATLAB Programming Language ?

MATLAB is interactive system whose basic data element is an array which does not require dimensioning. It is used to solve many technical problems which require matrix and vector formulations and computations. MATLAB is the short form of "Matrix Laboratory". MATLAB was originally written to provide easy access to matrix software developed by LINPACK and EISPACK projects.

MATLAB has evolved over the years with input from many users. In universities, it is standard instructional tool for introductory and advanced courses in engineering, mathematics and science. MATLAB is tool of choice for research, development and analysis.

MATLAB Toolboxes

MATLAB provides family of application specific solutions called toolboxes. Toolboxes are comprehensive collections of MATLAB functions (i.e. m-files) which extend MATLAB environment to solve particular classes of problems. Area in which toolboxes are available include signal processing, neural networks, control systems, fuzzy logic, wavelets, simulation and so on.

MATLAB Window

When MATLAB is run, above window pops up. MATLAB environment is divided into four windows as shown.
Command window : This is the main window. It contains command prompt (>>). This is the place where user type all the commands.
Command history : It displays list of previously typed commands.
Workspace : It lists all the variables program or user has generated in the current session.It shows both type and size of the variables. It can be used to quickly plot and inspect values of the variables.
Current directory : It shows files and folders in the current directory.

Benefits or advantages of MATLAB

Following are the benefits or advantages of MATLAB:
➨It is easy to use due to its command line interface and file oriented structure.
➨MATLAB is platform independent and hence it can be installed on different Operating Systems such as Windows, Vista, Linux and Macintosh.
➨MATLAB has huge built-in library of functions for many predefined tasks. This makes job more comfortable and saves time. These functions are available as part of various toolkits which include signal processing, image processing, communications, control systems, neural networks etc.
➨It offers plotting and imaging related commands which are independent of devices.
➨MATLAB provides tool to develop GUI based applications which can also licensed based on MAC address to customers using few lines of code script. MATLAB applications are compiled into machine independent p-code.
➨Errors are easier to fix as it is interpreted language.
➨Matrix operations are easier and quick to perform. MATLAB can handle and manipulate large data sets. Hence it is used to develop and code many of algorithms quickly.
➨MATLAB is inexpensive software.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of MATLAB

Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of MATLAB:
➨MATLAB is interpreted language and hence it takes more time to execute than other compiled languages such as C, C++.
➨It is expensive than regular C or Fortran compiler. Individuals find it expensive to purchase.
➨It requires fast computer with sufficient amount of memory. This adds to the cost for individuals willing to use it for programming.
➨It is difficult to develop real time applications using MATLAB as it sits "on top" of windows.
➨It is not free and hence users need to obtain licensed version from MathWorks, Inc.



MATLAB programming tutorial

Refer MATLAB tutorial >> which describes MATLAB programming with example.


Useful Links to MATLAB source codes

Refer following as well as links mentioned on left side panel for useful MATLAB codes.
PTS for PAPR reduction
OFDM Preamble generation
Time off estimation corr
Freq off estimation corr
channel estimation
11a WLAN channel
11g WLAN channel
15.3 UWB channel
15.4a UWB channel
16d SUI Channel
16e wimax channel
Rician channel
Rayleigh channel
SC-FDMA
PN sequence generation
3D plotting
AM FM PM modulation
OFDMA Tx Rx
AES DES
carrier aggregation
CCDF
FIR Filter
IIR Filter
Low Pass FIR
Viterbi decoder
CRC8 CRC32


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