MATLAB 7.11

Developing Algorithms and Applications

MATLAB^® provides a high-level language and development tools that let you quickly develop and analyze your algorithms and applications.

The MATLAB^® Language

The MATLAB^® language supports the vector and matrix operations that are fundamental to engineering and scientific problems. It enables fast development and execution.

With the MATLAB language, you can program and develop algorithms faster than with traditional languages because you do not need to perform low-level administrative tasks, such as declaring variables, specifying data types, and allocating memory. In many cases, MATLAB eliminates the need for ‘for’ loops. As a result, one line of MATLAB code can often replace several lines of C or C++ code.

At the same time, MATLAB provides all the features of a traditional programming language, including arithmetic operators, flow control, data structures, data types, object-oriented programming (OOP), and debugging features.

A communications modulation algorithm that generates 1,024 random bits, performs modulation, adds complex Gaussian noise, and plots the result--all in just 9 lines of MATLAB code.

MATLAB lets you execute commands or groups of commands one at a time, without compiling and linking, enabling you to quickly iterate to the optimal solution.


For fast execution of heavy matrix and vector computations, MATLAB uses processor-optimized libraries. For general-purpose scalar computations, MATLAB generates machine-code instructions using its JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation technology.

This technology, which is available on most platforms, provides execution speeds that rival those of traditional programming languages.

Development Tools

MATLAB includes development tools that help you implement your algorithm efficiently. These include the following:

MATLAB Editor - Provides standard editing and debugging features, such as setting breakpoints and single stepping

M-Lint Code Checker - Analyzes your code and recommends changes to improve its performance and maintainability

MATLAB Profiler - Records the time spent executing each line of code

Directory Reports - Scan all the files in a directory and report on code efficiency, file differences, file dependencies, and code coverage

An M-Lint Code Checker report that includes recommendations for making the code faster and easier to maintain.

Designing Graphical User Interfaces

You can use the interactive tool GUIDE (Graphical User Interface Development Environment) to lay out, design, and edit user interfaces. GUIDE lets you include list boxes, pull-down menus, push buttons, radio buttons, and sliders, as well as MATLAB plots and ActiveX controls. Alternatively, you can create GUIs programmatically using MATLAB functions.

GUIDE layout of a wavelet analysis GUI (top) together with the completed interface (bottom).