MATLAB
MATLAB
MATLAB first originated from an interactive matrix calculator (it was actually not a programming language at the time) created by Cleve Moler. It became commercially available in 1984, and the software became popular among academics due to toolboxes that can perform specific mathematical tasks. MATLAB is written with C, C++, and Java programming languages. Modern day MATLAB continues to be used by engineers and scientists for various applications. It is especially popular for ordinary differential equation (ODE) solving and linear algebra (matrix) operations. There are currently 63 toolboxes in various specialized applications, including machine learning, control systems, image processing and computer vision, math, statistics, optimization, signal processing, and more.
MATLAB is a high-level programming language, supporting object oriented programming and functional programming. MATLAB’s desktop environment allows the user to generate and view interactive graphics, data visualizations, and process images. The graphical user interface (GUI) has built in apps and tools and also has built in graphical programming, Simulink, which is mostly used for modeling control systems.
There are various mathematical functions, which are useful for number crunching, data analysis, statistics, signal processing, etc. There are various applications of MATLAB, such as aerospace engineering, computational biology, machine learning, and finance.
Some useful MATLAB Toolboxes include:
Curve Fitting Toolbox - Good for data analysis and graphing
Symbolic Math Toolbox - Good for complex symbolic mathematical operations
Image Processing Toolbox - Good for image processing
MATLAB is a good general purpose programming language for a beginner to learn, as it is a popular programming language with a lot of resources online for beginners. The various possible applications are suitable for a beginner who isn’t sure what they would like to apply their programming skills to. In addition, it is also applicable for beginner programmers that specialize in other fields outside of computer science, such as biology, statistics, math, or engineering. The broad variety of uses and tools available make it a good choice for beginners. However, it is important to note that MATLAB requires a paid subscription, which can be expensive for individuals that do not have MATLAB licensing through an academic institution or corporation. As such, MATLAB may be more accessible for students or employees of engineering or science firms who have licenses available for users.