MathWorks Matlab Reviews

I am working with MathWorks Matlab for statistics and machine learning, though I don't know which version I have, but I guess it is 21 or so. I don't care because the things I'm doing haven't changed over the years.

I utilize MathWorks Matlab for algorithm development in my projects, as I do it all the time and develop machine learning algorithms.

I utilize MathWorks Simulink for system modeling; however, I don't use it often and just sometimes use it for demonstration, as my focus is on MathWorks Matlab, not on Simulink.

What I appreciate about MathWorks Matlab is that it is the most versatile program system I know; there are so many toolboxes which I don't need, as I mostly work with statistics, but it's amazing how many functions there are. The functionality is extreme, and with MathWorks Matlab and Simulink, you can build a car, as you can simulate all the functions of a car, for instance.

I utilize many of MathWorks Matlab's built-in mathematical functions, as they have so many built-in mathematical functions such as the Fourier transform. When you program the Fourier transform in C, for instance, you may need several hundred steps, but in MathWorks Matlab, it's just one line.

I find integrating MathWorks Matlab with other programming languages C and Java to be extremely helpful. You can easily export from MathWorks Matlab to C, C++, and Java. I don't use Java, but I use C, and it is very easy to export to C, especially when you have performance issues and want to run code in a microcontroller, such as in a car. This is a really big advantage as you cannot run MathWorks Matlab there, but you can deploy it to C so that it will run in a microcontroller in the car. That's the reason the car industry is using MathWorks Matlab extensively.

The application is pretty good, and I don't really complain. For my purposes, MathWorks Matlab is perfect because it's very versatile; it is not out-of-the-box of course, and you have to program everything yourself. If you are experienced enough, you can do many things which other programs, for instance, SPSS, cannot do, as you need to program it—it's a fourth-generation programming language.

In the future of MathWorks Matlab, I would appreciate the addition of many AI features, as there are a lot of machine learning capabilities and many AI features in the visual scene, although I don't need those because I use this feature data and don't work on pictures or images. However, you can work on images and can then do deep learning and that stuff, which is one of the real strengths of MathWorks Matlab.

I have been working with MathWorks Matlab for about 30 years.

There are no complexities, no difficulties with installation; it's running straightforward, very easy, and easy to deploy.

MathWorks is very responsive; they have toolboxes available, and there is a huge community with file sharing and servers. When you have a problem you cannot solve rapidly, you can just ask ChatGPT, and it can give you the MATLAB code, or if you have a MATLAB code that doesn't work properly, you can just provide it to ChatGPT to get a corrected version.

Positive

The installation process for MathWorks Matlab takes approximately one hour.

I am doing the installation completely by myself without any help.

I have seen a return on investment in the long run with MathWorks Matlab, though I don't have statistics, as it is just a tool I am using for many years now.

Regarding the pricing part and licensing cost for MathWorks Matlab, it is not cheap, but it depends on the functions you need. You don't need all of them; you may just require a few and then it's reasonable.

I would assess MathWorks Matlab's matrix manipulation capabilities as extremely good, as that is one of the big features of MathWorks Matlab, with matrix transformations and matrix generation functions being perfect. On a scale of 1-10, I rate MathWorks Matlab a 10.

At the university, I collect the data, and we make math models using MathWorks Matlab.

We collect data at 3PAR and analyze it with MathWorks Matlab to use the math model.

This has been ongoing since 2012, working with CERN until 2018 and continuing with the Laros project from Prisma Electronics.

MathWorks Matlab is straightforward, but version compatibility must be checked. For example, 2012a was the version that was stable on Windows XP, which was important because we have many old machines in our labs. The compatibility of versions and libraries is another consideration with MathWorks Matlab.

Some machines at the laboratory are older models. The 2012a version is necessary to run on XP, while another version works better with Windows 7. We don't use the latest version of Windows because some machines must run certain projects for 20 years. They are locked.

Making digital twins saves significant time. Checking something in simulation is more cost-effective. For instance, with marine engines, we typically need about 10 years of checking to find misfires, but with MathWorks Matlab, we can complete it in one month.

MathWorks Matlab has numerous libraries, making it challenging to have a holistic understanding of all of them. I can only speak about the libraries I have used.

Additional GUIs and add-ons for MathWorks Matlab would help, especially for users who are not familiar with the software.

The cost is a significant concern. While university pricing is reasonable, a cheaper version with fewer libraries would be beneficial. In Greece, we struggle to purchase licenses, and we also use Ansys.

There are technical differences in simulation, but the price of MathWorks Matlab is too high for a Greek mechanic to use it. A license with fewer features would be more appropriate.

The solution has been in use through 2018 with CERN and continues with the Laros project.

The software has proven stable throughout our experiments.

The solution can be scaled effectively and has demonstrated good scalability.

Technical support was not utilized as we developed our own solutions. The license was without support.

Neutral

They are planning to update the infrastructure for advancement and discussing the next solution after 3PAR, though I cannot recall its name.

Python is the primary language at the university across physics, chemistry, and IT departments. It is used to collect data and send it to MathWorks Matlab. We also have some Java and C++ applications.

I have designed the Simulink background, which is how we collect data and create digital twins.

For system admin automation, I use Ansible and Puppet. We also utilize shell scripts and Python scripts.

Puppet, specifically Puppet Tower (Puppet 3), is the CERN method of automation. It's a platform for system admins where you write a recipe and send it to machines for installations.

The work is primarily conducted by PhD students in the laboratories. As the technician, I demonstrate the initial steps, but the main work belongs to the students.

Additional GUIs and add-ons for MathWorks Matlab would benefit users who are less familiar with the software.

The process is time-consuming without simulation, though I cannot provide a specific percentage.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate MathWorks Matlab an 8.

I use the tool for model-based development projects, particularly in the automotive sector. These projects involve automation and testing using scripts. Additionally, I have utilized it for auto-code generation and embedded coding. However, I haven't used the solution recently in the last three to four months due to a shift in my project focus.

The tool's most valuable feature is the Simulink environment. This feature provides an incredible capability to visually represent the system behavior before creating the code. It allows you to see the flow and interactions of the system, which is extremely beneficial for software development. With this visual representation, you can better understand the system's behavior, make necessary adjustments, and ensure maintenance and updates. This capability is why I love working with the product. 

The solution's UI has greatly supported my development process. I would rate it an eight point five out of ten for its user interface. It's easy to explain how a system works, especially if I've created a model in the Simulink environment. Integrating it with other languages or tools has always benefited my projects. Even though I've only used two languages, it has been advantageous overall.

In the area of improvement, sometimes there are issues with the speed of MathWorks Matlab, particularly in the Simulink environment. The tool's latest versions can be slow to open, taking significant time to load. Additionally, saving data and integrating models can also be time-consuming processes.

The tool is quite costly. I think MathWorks Matlab should reduce the cost of the product. Sometimes companies might not want to pay for it if it's not being used consistently. For example, if you're not working for 15 days, they might ask you to uninstall it to save costs.

I have been using the product for six years. 

Generally, we don't face breakdowns with the tool, but they may occur occasionally. It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for these breakdowns, but they might happen when working with bulky or complex models. In my experience, I've only encountered breakdowns once or twice.

More than 40 percent of employees in my company use the tool. It can be around 8,000 users. 

MathWorks Matlab's tech support is supportive and nice.

The solution's installation is not easy, as it requires a basic understanding of the software and its components. You need to have a grasp of concepts learned in engineering or other related fields to utilize the tool and Simulink. Understanding how each system works can take some time.

I would advise you first to understand the tool's basics and what it does. Take your time to gradually familiarize yourself with each aspect of the solution, as it's not something you'll grasp all at once. While you can get an overall sense of how it works initially, to understand its features truly, you'll need to study and practice each component.

I would rate the tool an eight point five out of ten. Sometimes it can be complex to understand, but it's fun to work with overall. However, this perception can vary from person to person. Some may find it irritating, while others may find it enjoyable. Overall, it's a great product.

My main use cases for the solution were centered around academic research and engineering work. It was my preferred tool for performing mathematical manipulations and engineering tasks because it offered robust packages and libraries specific to those fields. For example, I found it highly suitable for tasks related to digital signal processing and other metric-based operations commonly required in engineering.

The platform's most valuable feature is its field-specific packages, which make it very easy to use. For example, it has modules for areas like aerospace engineering, signal processing, and even electrical power systems. These prebuilt libraries are a huge advantage, allowing engineers and researchers to access the tools they need quickly. 

Additionally, it offers the flexibility to create your libraries and toolboxes, another feature I frequently took advantage of. The continuous updates to these functions make the platform versatile and reliable for research.

One area where the product could improve is in the ease of learning. The syntax can be challenging for first-time programmers or those unfamiliar with specialized languages. Also, while the community is strong, there could be more readily available online tutorials and structured learning materials, similar to what other platforms like SAP offer.

I started using MathWorks Matlab four years ago.

The solution is highly scalable. It continually updates its functionalities, making it a robust tool for those in academic or research settings. Although I cannot speak extensively to its scalability in an organizational context, it is flexible and adaptable for personal or research purposes. We can always count on the latest upgrades and features, which keep it relevant and useful for long-term projects.

The installation process was quite easy. It was straightforward and didn't require any external resources or complicated steps. The software provides clear prompts and guidelines throughout the process, making it a smooth experience.

The pricing for the software itself is reasonable, and I didn't encounter any additional costs beyond the initial purchase or license.

Overall, I rate MathWorks Matlab a nine out of ten. 

The primary use case of this solution to test run my algorithms before I develop the software in Visual Studio.

I use MATLAB quite often.

Personally for me, because I do a lot of development, I like that it is easy to test mathematical algorithms with several matrix calculations. It's perfect for that.

The support needs to be improved. You have to pay an extra fee to get support. To have it included with the license would be better.

To make use of the GPU, you have to have an Nvidia card. What I would want it to do is to run in Next Generation with Intel or AMD, and not just with Nvidia.

For me, my laptop has an Nvidia GPU, so it's good for me. For those who have AMD or Intel, they cannot run codes with those GPUs because MATLAB only runs on Nvidia. If there is a way to correct this issue, it would be helpful for many people.

In the next release, I would like to see the support be better, faster, and they should have multilingual support systems. Currently, it's difficult as I have to contact them in Germany. My German is not that good and sometimes they don't speak English very well.

There are so many add-ons that I have to purchase and I can make use of them all. For example, with the statistical add-on, it has some shortcut options that I cannot make use of. One of them is FFT and because I can write my algorithms I can get it, but it has become expensive. 

I have to purchase all of the add-ons to have access to every single algorithm that is in MATLAB itself.

It would be helpful and it would make it simple if this was already a part of the MATLAB software without any additional add-ons. For example, specific statistical functions that everyone needs, you shouldn't have to pay extra for those specific features.

I have been using this solution for six to seven years.

I have a 2007 version that I use for the Vision systems tool and some statistical tools, but I now have the 2017 version which is the latest.

This solution is stable. I don't have any complaints.

This solution is scalable.

Initially, I had support for a year, and it was good, but the company did not renew the support so I no longer had access to good support.

When I had it initially, it was really good and worth it.

Previously I did not use any other solution. I have always used MATLAB.

I would like to make changes to other things but MATLAB has always been my number one choice.

The initial setup is easy. It takes time but it's easy.

It depends on how many add-ons you have but typically if you have five or six add-ons it can take an hour.

We have a single user license. Support and add-ons are an extra fee.

I write my algorithms. 

This solution is pretty good, I truly enjoy it. It's almost a perfect piece of software for me. There are a few things here and there but overall, I don't have any complaints.

I would recommend this solution.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.