Introduction
MATLAB (short for MATrix LABoratory) is a special-purpose
computer program optimized to perform engineering and scientific
calculations. It started life as a program designed to perform matrix
mathematics, but over the years it has grown into a flexible
computing system capable of solving essentially any technical
problem.
The Advantages of MATLAB
1. Ease of Use
MATLAB is an interpreted language, like many versions of Basic.
Like Basic, it is very easy to use. The program can be used as a
scratch pad to evaluate expressions typed at the command line, or
it can be used to execute large pre-written programs. Programs
may be easily written and modified with the built-in integrated
development environment and debugged with the MATLAB
debugger. Because the language is so easy to use, it is ideal for the
rapid prototyping of new programs.
2. Platform Independence
MATLAB is supported on many different computer systems,
providing a Targe measure of platform independence. At the time
of this writing, the language is supported on Windows NT/2000/XP,
Linux, several versions of Unix, and the Macintosh
3. Predefined Functions
MATLAB comes complete with an extensive library of predefined
functions that provide tested and pre-packaged solutions to many
basic tech- tasks
4. Device-Independent Plotting
Unlike most other computer languages, MATLAB has many integral
plotting and imaging commands. The plots and images can be
displayed on any graphical output device supported by the
computer on which MATLAB 13 1.3 The MATLAB Environment 3
running. This capability makes MATLAB an outstanding tool for
visualizing technical data
5. Graphical User Interface
MATLAB includes tools that allow a programmer to interactively
construct a graphical user interface (GUI) for his or her program.
With this capability, the programmer can design sophisticated data-
analysis programs that can be operated by relatively inexperienced
users.
6. MATLAB Compiler
MATLAB's flexibility and platform independence is achieved by
compiling MATLAB programs into a device-independent p-code,
and then interpreting the p-code instructions at runtime.
Disadvantages of MATLAB
MATLAB has two principal disadvantages. The first is that it is an
interpreted language and therefore can execute more slowly than
compiled languages. This problem can be mitigated by properly
structuring the MATLAB program, and by the use of the MATLAB
compiler to compile the final MATLAB program before distribution
and general use. The second disadvantage is cost: a full copy of
MATLAB is five to ten times more expensive than a conventional C
or Fortran compiler. This relatively high cost is more than offset by
the reduced time required for an engineer or scientist to create a
working program, so MATLAB is cost-effective for businesses.
However, it is too expensive for most individuals to consider
purchasing. Fortunately, there is also an inexpensive Student
Edition of MATLAB, which is a great tool for students wishing to
learn the language. The Student Edition of MATLAB is essentially
identical to the full edition.