Tutorial: Matlab
provided by Dr. Hella Rabus

MATLAB (matrix laboratory) is a multi-paradigm numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. A proprietary programming language developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages, including C, C++, C#, Java, Fortran and Python. For more information in MATLAB see the official Matlab-Homepage or the MathWorks online documentary.

If you want to work with MATLAB on one of the computers in the institute of mathematics of the Humboldt Universität or if you have a linux based system and are logged into your math account, just type

matlab

into your terminal and you are ready to go. If you want to start a specific MATLAB version (the newest for example), you can add the version to the matlab command, i.e.,

matlabR2016b

If you don't know which versions are available, just type matlab into your command line and double press . If you are connected via ssh or don't want to use the graphical user interface of MATLAB, you can start MATLAB in your terminal without a graphical UI. This can be done by

matlab -nodesktop

For more Information on how to connect to your math account via ssh, please see this guide . Hint: If you do not want to see the MathWorks logo when starting MATLAB just type

matlab -nosplash

This will also reduce the time to start MATLAB.

Octave

As an alternative to MATLAB, there is the possibility of using the license free and opensource software Octave. Most linux distributions even allow installing octave via the package manager. If you use Octave for any exercises, please be aware that it is your responsibility to check, if your programms work with the MATLAB versions accessible in the institute of mathematics.