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FreeMat - FAQ PDF

FreeMat is an open source MATLAB clone that provides a similar environment for engineering and scientific processing. It supports many core MATLAB features like arrays, plotting, FFT, and classes. While not fully compatible with MATLAB, it supports around 95% of features. FreeMat is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac and the source code can be downloaded, compiled, and contributions are welcome. Issues should be reported to help track and resolve bugs.

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390 views2 pages

FreeMat - FAQ PDF

FreeMat is an open source MATLAB clone that provides a similar environment for engineering and scientific processing. It supports many core MATLAB features like arrays, plotting, FFT, and classes. While not fully compatible with MATLAB, it supports around 95% of features. FreeMat is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac and the source code can be downloaded, compiled, and contributions are welcome. Issues should be reported to help track and resolve bugs.

Uploaded by

artedlc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FAQ
Contents:
1. WhatisFreeMat?
2. WhyGPL?
3. WhyanotherMATLABclone?HaveyouheardofOctave,Scilab,etc.?

Wiki

4. FreeMat100%compatiblewithMATLAB?WhataboutIDL?

Blog

5. Whatplatformsaresupported?

FAQ

6. HowdoIgetit?
7. Ifoundabug!Whatnow?
8. Whereisfunctionxyz?
9. WhowroteFreeMatandwhy?
10. Arethereanydevelopmentrelatedpages?

1.WhatisFreeMat?
FreeMatisanenvironmentforrapidengineeringandscientificprocessing.Itissimilartocommercialsystemssuch
asMATLABfromMathworksandIDLfromResearchSystems,butisOpenSource.Itisfreeasinspeechandfree
asinbeer.

2.WhyGPL?
PreviousversionsofFreeMatwerereleasedunderMITlicenses.ThecurrentversionisreleasedunderGPL.There
areanumberofgreattoolsthatareavailabletoGPLedcode(e.g.,Qt,FFTW,FFC ALL),andFreeMatisnowoneof
them.

3.WhyanotherMATLABclone?HaveyouheardofOctave,Scilab,etc.?
Yes! FreeMat is chartered to go beyond MATLAB to include features such as a codeless interface to external
C /C ++/FORTRAN code, parallel/distributed algorithm development (via MPI), and advanced volume and 3D
visualization capabilities. As for the open source alternatives, try them out and decide for yourself. Who said
choicewasabadthing?

4.IsFreeMat100%compatiblewithMATLAB?WhataboutIDL?
No.FreeMatsupportsroughly95%(amadeupstatistic)ofthefeaturesinMATLAB.Thefollowingtablesummarizes
howFreeMatstacksupagainstMATLABandIDL.Becauseweliketoleadwiththepositive,herearethefeaturesin
thataresupported:
Ndimensionalarraymanipulation(bydefault,Nislimitedto6)
Supportfor8,16,32,and64bitintegertypes(signedandunsigned),32and64bitfloatingpointtypes,and
64and128bitcomplextypes.
Builtinarithmeticformanipulationofallsupporteddatatypes.
Supportforsolvinglinearsystemsofequationsviathedivideoperators.
Eigenvalueandsingularvaluedecompositions
Fullcontrolstructuresupport(including,for,while,break,continue,etc.)
2Dplottingandimagedisplay
Heterogeneousarraytypes(called"cellarrays"inMATLABspeak)fullysupported
Fullsupportfordynamicstructurearrays
ArbitrarysizeFFTsupport
Passbyreferencesupport(anIDLfeature)
Keywordsupport(anIDLfeature)
C odelessinterfacetoexternalC /C ++/FORTRANcode
NativeWindowssupport
Nativesparsematrixsupport
NativesupportforMacOSX(noX11serverrequired).
Functionpointers(evalandfevalarefullysupported)
C lasses,operatoroverloading

3DPlottingandvisualizationviaOpenGL
ParallelprocessingwithMPI(intheFreeMatdevelopmentversions)
Handlebasedgraphics
HerearethelistofmajorMATLABfeaturesnotcurrentlysupported:
GUI/Widgets
Finally the list of features that are in progress (meaning they are in the development version or are planned for
thenearfuture):
Widgets/GUIbuilding
3Dvolumerenderingcapability(intheFreeMatdevelopmentversions)
FreeMattoMEXinterfaceforportingMATLABMEXfiles.
IfyoufeelverystronglythatoneormoreMATLABfeaturesaremissingthatwouldbeusefultohaveinFreeMat,
youcaneitheraddityourselfortryandconvincesomeoneelse(e.g.,me)toadditforyou.AsforIDL,FreeMatis
notcompatibleatallwithIDL(thesyntaxisMATLABbased),butafewcriticalconceptsfromIDLareimplemented,
includingpassbyreferenceandkeywords.

5.Whatplatformsaresupported?
C urrently, Windows 2000/XP, Linux and Mac OS X are supported platforms. Other UNIX environments (such as
IRIX/SOLARIS) may work. FreeMat essentially requires GNU gcc/g++ and gfortran to build. The Win32 build
requiresMINGW32.Idon'tknowifFreeMatwillworkwithWindows98/95/MEorNT4asIdon'thaveaccesstoany
oftheseplatforms.AnativeporttoMacOSXisnowavailable.

6.HowdoIgetit?
C lickontheDownloadslink(oronthenavigationbarontheleft).InstallersareavailableforWindowsandMacOS
X,andsourceandbinarypackagesareavailableforLinux.

7.Ifoundabug!Whatnow?
C ongratulations! Please file a bug report . FreeMat is a fairly complicated program. Simply saying "it crashed" is
notparticularlyhelpful.Ifpossible,pleaseprovideashortfunctionorscriptthatreproducestheproblem.Thatwill
goalongwaytowardshelpingusfigureouttheproblem.Also,thebugtrackingfeatureofSourceForgewillallow
youtoputinbugsanonymously,butpleasedon't!Anonymousbugreportsaredifficulttofollowupon.

8.Whereisfunctionxyz?
ThereareanumberofbasicfunctionsthataremissingfromFreeMat'srepertoire.Theywillbeaddedastimegoes
on. If there is a particular function you would like to see, either write it yourself or put in an RFE (Request For
Enhancement)here.

9.WhowroteFreeMatandwhy?
FreeMathasbeenindevelopmentbymyself(SamitBasu)overaperiodoffouryearswithhelpfromanumberof
contributers distributed throughout the globe. Why not? Seriously, my main reason is to provide a free
implementationofareasonablepartoftheMatlabAPI,andaddsomeextensionsalongtheway.

10.Arethereanydevelopmentrelatedpages?
Yes.PleaseseeourWIKIbasedDevelopmentPages

we bde signbyfre e m atte am |privacypolicy|te rm sandconditions

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