1.1: Obtaining MATLAB and Octave

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Page ID: 84381

Carey Smith
Oxnard College

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You need to install either MATLAB or Octave for this course. MATLAB has some advantages:

MATLAB has better error checking and better help. MATLAB's documentation is better, but you can most of MATLAB's documentation without purchasing a license.
MATLAB runs faster. This is not an issue for this class' assignments, but is an issue for large analysis code you might use professionally.
Obtaining MATLAB

MATLAB can be installed on either Windows or Mac computers. The basic MATLAB student license is $49, which is a great deal. (For more features see the "The MATLAB & Simulink Student Suite" section below.) The MATLAB licenses are valid for as long as you are a student anywhere. The link to purchase the MATLAB license is:

https://www.mathworks.com/store/link/products/student/new?s_iid=htb_buy_gtwy_cta3

The links to install it on a Windows or Apple computer are there.

MATLAB also has a free on-line version which is adequate for this course. The online version has limitations that only apply to professional applications, such as integrating it with hardware. A description of the online version's limitations is here:

https://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab-online/limitations.html

If you have a Chromebook, consider using Octave. MATLAB can be installed on some (but not all) Chromebooks. The process can be difficult because Chromebooks use the Linux operating system. These instructions may or may not work for you:

https://www.linuxfordevices.com/tutorials/linux/installing-matlab-on-linux

Another option for a Chromebook is to use the MATLAB on-line version.

The MATLAB & Simulink Student Suite

If you wish, you can choose the MATLAB & Simulink Student Suite is $99. This includes a number of toolboxes and Simulink, which you may find useful in future classes. This is also a great deal, but is not needed for this class.

Simulink is an advanced software program that let's you model systems with feed back in a graphical way. You can create "block diagrams", as described in these videos. It will not be used in this class, but it is likely to be useful for you is your major is mechatronics, electrical engineering, or computer engineering. This video gives a quick overview.