MATLAB - Overview

MATLAB(matrix laboratory) is a fourth-generation high-level programming language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization and programming.

MATLAB is developed by Math Works.

It allows matrix manipulations; plotting of functions and data; implementation of algorithms; creation of user interfaces; interfacing with programs written in other languages, including C, C++, Java, and Fortran; analyze data; develop algorithms; and create models and applications.
It has numerous built-in commands and math functions that help you in mathematical calculations, generating plots and performing numerical methods.

MATLAB's Power of Computational Mathematics

MATLAB is used in every facet of computational mathematics. Following are some commonly used mathematical calculations where it is used most commonly:

• Dealing with Matrices and Arrays
• 2-D and 3-D Plotting and graphics
• Linear Algebra
• Algebraic Equations
  
• Non-linear Functions
• Statistics
• Data Analysis
  
• Calculus and Differential Equations
• Numerical Calculations
• Integration
• Transforms
  
• Curve Fitting
• Various other special functions

Features of MATLAB

Following are the basic features of MATLAB:

• It is a high-level language for numerical computation, visualization and application development.
• It also provides an interactive environment for iterative exploration, design and problem solving.
• It provides vast library of mathematical functions for linear algebra, statistics, Fourier analysis, filtering, optimization, numerical integration and solving ordinary differential equations.
• It provides built-in graphics for visualizing data and tools for creating custom plots.
• MATLAB's programming interface gives development tools for improving code quality and maintainability and maximizing performance.
• It provides tools for building applications with custom graphical interfaces.
• It provides functions for integrating MATLAB based algorithms with external applications and languages such as C, Java, .NET and Microsoft Excel.

Uses of MATLAB

MATLAB is widely used as a computational tool in science and engineering encompassing the fields of physics, chemistry, math and all engineering streams. It is used in a range of applications including:

• Signal Processing and Communications
• Image and Video Processing
• Control Systems
• Test and Measurement
• Computational Finance
• Computational Biology

You really do not need to set up your own environment to start learning MATLAB/Octave programming language. Reason is very simple , so that you can execute all the available examples  at the same time when you are doing your theory work. This gives you confidence in what you are reading and to check the result with different options. Feel free to modify any example and execute it

Try following example using Try it option available at the top right corner of the below sample code box:

x = [1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10];
y1 = [.16 .08 .04 .02 .013 .007 .004 .002 .001 .0008 ];
y2 = [.16 .07 .03 .01 .008 .003 .0008 .0003 .00007 .00002 ];

semilogy(x,y1,'-bo;y1;',x,y2,'-kx;y2;');
title('Plot title');
xlabel('X Axis');
ylabel('Y Axis');
print -deps graph.eps

For most of the examples given in this tutorial, you will find Try it option, so just make use of it and enjoy your learning.

Local Environment Setup

If you are still willing to set up your environment, let me tell you a secret, setting up MATLAB environment is a matter of few clicks. However, you need to download the installer from here:

MathWorks provides the licensed product, a trial version and a student version as well. You need to log into the site and wait a little for their approval.

Once you get the download link, as I said, it is a matter of few clicks:

Installing

Understanding the MATLAB Environment:

You can launch MATLAB development IDE from the icon created on your desktop. The main working window in MATLAB is called the desktop. When you start MATLAB, the desktop appears in its default layout:

The desktop has the following panels:

• Current Folder - This panel allows you to access your project folders and files.

• Current Folder
• Command Window - This is the main area where you enter commands at the command line, indicated by the command prompt (>>).
  
• Workspace - The workspace shows all the variables you create and/or import from file
• Command History - This panels shows or rerun commands that you entered at the command line.

Command Window

Set up GNU Octave

If you are willing to use Octave on your machine ( Linux, BSD, OS X or Windows ), then kindly download latest version from Download GNU Octave. You can check given installation instruction for your machine.

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