Introduction to MATLAB

Initial tasks:

 

Gerard Capes, Research IT

Research-related IT Services

Described on IT Services website.

Announcements given via Research IT blog.

  • Training courses teaching computing skills for Research
  • General guidance and advice about research software
  • Access to specialist support and consultancy e.g. code reviews
  • Access to HPC systems
  • Data storage and management
  • Full list of services on offer

For help and support use the Support Centre

Housekeeping

  • Fire exit
  • Toilets
  • Course timing
    • 09:30 -- 12:00
    • 12:00 -- 13:00 lunch
    • 13:00 -- 16:00 

What is MATLAB?

  • MATLAB (MATrix LABoratory) is a programming environment with its own programming language, IDE and libraries (toolboxes).
  • Major strength is matrix operations
  • MATLAB has a large user base within Science and Engineering, and has extensive documentation
  • Hence there is lots of shared code and libraries available
    • Quick development is possible by building on what others have already done
  • Semi-interpreted language, so not as quick as compiled languages

Accessing MATLAB

The University Of Manchester has a network licence for MATLAB which allows 616 concurrent research users (generally far fewer for toolboxes). This has several implications:

  • Ensure connection to UoM network (on campus, or via VPN)
  • Play nicely (don't hog the licence):
    • Don't leave MATLAB running unnecessarily
    • Don't open MATLAB on multiple hardware

Installing MATLAB

For managed desktops, automated installation via the Software Centre.

For unmanaged desktops, download from the ESD and manually install following instruction on the Applications page.

Read the terms of the licence before use - one point to highlight: students (including PG) are not allowed to install MATLAB on personally owned equipment.

Alternatives to MATLAB

GNU Octave

  • open source MATLAB clone
  • (mostly) source-code compatible
  • free, but slower

Python

  • a good general purpose programming language
  • many add-on packages for scientific programming e.g. NumPy, Matplotlib

R

  • Statistical computing and graphics

Fortran, C, C++

  • Compiled languages which often run much quicker than MATLAB

Course material

  • Self-directed online courses with exercises
  • Ask me/each other questions as required

 

  1. Getting started
  2. Fundamentals
  3. Matrices
  4. Graphics
  5. Programming
  6. M-files

 

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