Visual programming language and matlab

Bryan Heit — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:34:15 -0400

A few weeks ago I posted a message asking about porting matlab
functions to open-source alternatives (to save money on matlab
licenses). After much study and deliberation (and the surprise
finding that I could install matlabs MATLAB Compiler Runtime free onto
all my computers) I've decided to go the route of compiling stand-
alone matlab functions, rather than switching to an open source
option.

The original post can be viewed here:
>http://groups.google.ca/group/comp.soft-sys.matlab/browse_frm/thread/370440967742844a/94edcd769066d98f?lnk=gst&q=heit#94edcd769066d98f

The question that came up repetitively was how to make this user
friendly. Most of our matlab routines are intended to be used as
"modules" under control of a mater script. Since all of our matlab
functions are controlled entirely from command-line options, we were
thinking that it may be ideal to use some sort of visual scripting/
programming language to control the functions. Aside from making
things more user friendly, custom routines could be easily created
simply by scripting existing functions together in new ways. This
sort of system would be hugely beneficial, as we are currently swamped
with hundreds of matlab "master scripts" where people have written
matlab functions to string together other previously written matlab
functions to do whatever analysis they are trying to do.

The biggest downside of this method would be the need to pass data
between functions in the form of temporary files, but then again, the
amounts of data we are currently processing already requires the use
of temp files so this wouldn't change things much.

Has anyone implemented this type of control over matlab functions?
Does anyone know of a good virtual scripting/programming language that
would be good for controlling such command-line functions? For that
matter is "visual scripting" the correct term for what I want to do?*

I know that simulink can do some of the things we want, but that comes
back the licensing enough copies for all our computers issue - and we
currently do not licence simulink.

*by visual scripting, I mean that each function is represented by an
icon. You drag the icons into order, connect outputs to inputs via
drawing lines. Often, info is entered into the icons to control
variables. LabVIEW kinda works in this fashion, I think olympus has
image acquisition software that also works in this manner.

Once again, money is a bit of an issue, so open source or inexpensive
packages would be preferred.

Thanx

Bryan

Re: Visual programming language and matlab

Paul Mennen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:21 -0400

Bryan Heit wrote
> *by visual scripting, I mean that each function is
> represented by an icon. You drag the icons into
> order, connect outputs to inputs via drawing lines.

I would think you might be able to find a commercial
or even possibly a freeware application to do something
like that. I did a quick google search and found:

Synopsis - Visual Programming Tool 1.0

(It's commercial, and costs $150) I didn't look into
it so I don't know if it really does the things you need,
but if such a casual search found this, there must be
other similar applications out there.

By the way, since cost is a big issue, I assume you
have looked at some of the Matlab clones (e.g. Scilab,
Octave, Rlab). Did you think it would be to much work to
get you scripts and functions to work under these systems?

~Paul

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Visual programming language and matlab

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