free matlab environment

Question

Hi,

I'm learning the Matlab language and would like to have some kind of free environment to experiment with. The Matlab environment provided by MathWorks is commercial - there appears to be a trial available, but I can't figure out how to get the trial license.

For the moment, all I need is a command-line and the "standard libraries".

Thanks, Don

Answer 1

Octave is mostly compatible with matlab: http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/

Answer 2

Hey Don,

Look into these:

• Scilab
• Octave
• Sage

Read this blog entry from Ryan Morlok for more info on open source Matlab alternatives.

I'm a big fan of R, but it's not a substitute for Matlab... it's an alternative. There's a big difference!

Answer 3

If you're interested in trying things out in MATLAB directly, there was a recent blog entry on The MathWorks website regarding free trial downloads of MATLAB and its various toolboxes. If you haven't tried contacting them already, the blog links to this page where you can request product trials or, if you already have a licensed product, you can sign in and downloads trials of toolboxes.

Answer 4

Hi Don

Other users have given you the examples that I would have suggested - Octave and Scilab. Of the two, I would say that Scilab is more powerful BUT Octave tries really hard to be source compatible with standard MATLAB and Scilab does not.

So, if your aim is to experiment with a MATLAB like language and learn skills that you will eventually be able to transfer over to MATLAB then I suggest that you stick with Octave.

Answer 5

I was recently enamoured of Python XY. It's not exactly like Matlab but it has many of the same functions and copies the look and feel. I would personally use it if I didn't want to buy a Matlab license though - not if I wanted to practice with a Matlab stand-in.

www.pythonxy.com

Answer 6

If you are just starting with MATLAB I would strongly suggest to go the Python path instead (unless there is some very specific reason why you must use MATLAB). The basics (like array / matrix operations) are very similar to MATLAB.

In my current area of work (neuroscience) there is a strong migration from MATLAB to Python. Many groups are making the switch because Python is free and generally more powerful.

The basic packages you will probably need to get started would be numpy (basic array numerics), scipy (more algorithms) and matplotlib (plotting). Since you want to work on the command line I suggest IPython as well.

As already mentioned in another answer there are also some Python distributions which include many packages, like PythonXY or the Enthought Python Distribution.

There are many tutorials available on the web, search a little and pick one you like.