MATLAB stands for MATrix LABoratory is a special-purpose computer program optimized to perform engineering and scientific calculations. It is a high-performance language for technical computing. In colleges, it is the standard instructional tool for basic and advanced courses in mathematics, engineering, statistics and research. In industrial world, MATLAB is the most opted platform for intensive research, development of concepts into mathematical models, supervision, control, data logging and analysis, cognitive flavor and maintenance of present equipment/plant/machinery.
One of the most important feature or advantage that I find about MATLAB is that it is an INTERPRETER type language. This means that for execution of the program, there is no need of COMPILER, or to compile the entire program. One can execute a part of the program, or line by line, very easily. It has a special feature called "CELL" mode, in which by writing your code within "%%" and "%%" creates an independent block of program which can be executed individually. Yes there is one point to be noted here that if you are going to use some variables in the current cell that are generated in the previous cell(which you have not yet executed), then there would be an undefined error. More on cell mode in later posts...
One of the most important feature or advantage that I find about MATLAB is that it is an INTERPRETER type language. This means that for execution of the program, there is no need of COMPILER, or to compile the entire program. One can execute a part of the program, or line by line, very easily. It has a special feature called "CELL" mode, in which by writing your code within "%%" and "%%" creates an independent block of program which can be executed individually. Yes there is one point to be noted here that if you are going to use some variables in the current cell that are generated in the previous cell(which you have not yet executed), then there would be an undefined error. More on cell mode in later posts...
MATLAB is a programming language from MathWorks Inc. It has its functionality divided into three major classes as:
- Numerical Computing (Basic MATLAB)
- Functionality provided by the various TOOLBOXES
- Simulink
MATLAB enables users coming from various backgrounds such as Economics, Mathematics, Space Research, Engineering and various other sciences to simulate their concepts mathematically, develop simulation models to validate their concept for a wide set of input conditions. MATLAB is not like the other conventional programming languages. The basic reason being its level of abstraction. The user need not know the process actually taking place in the processor or accompanying hardware. A very wide variety of inbuilt-functions (these come with the software itself), make the programming task easier.
As per requirement, the necessary toolboxes can be licensed from MathWorks Inc. These toolboxes are specialized in their in own task, and can be thus used if your application needs a particular specialized task. Future posts will explain the toolboxes in more detail.
Simulink is a utility that is similar to a GUI based simulation. It has a variety of devices in its library. These devices are software devices, that is they are virtual and not hardware. The basic flavor of Simulink is to use these devices included in the library, interconnect them as per your concept and finally form a model. The model made has certain inputs and outputs and thus one can simulate the performance of their model, on the computer itself, without actually building the hardware. Simulink also enables to make your own custom blocks, with their own custom functionality or transfer function, programmed by the software (You need to write a block specific program in MATLAB). The inbuilt devices are such as oscilloscopes, voltmeter, etc which though are hardware can be used on the Computer as a virtual device.
More information coming up soon.
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