Why does MATLAB crash on Linux Fedora 26 with a segmentation violation (R2017b or later)?

Why does MATLAB R2017b or later crash on startup with the following segmentation violation on Linux.

Crash Log:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Segmentation violation detected at Fri Sep 22 11:09:35 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Configuration:
  Crash Decoding      : Enabled
  Crash Mode          : continue (default)
  Current Graphics Driver: Unknown software
  Current Visual      : 0x24 (class 4, depth 24)
  Default Encoding    : UTF-8
  Deployed            : false
  GNU C Library       : 2.25 stable
  Host Name           : t420
  MATLAB Architecture : glnxa64
  MATLAB Entitlement ID: 0000000
  MATLAB Root         : /usr/local/MATLAB/R2017b
  MATLAB Version      : 9.3.0.713579 (R2017b)
  OpenGL              : software
  Operating System    : Linux 4.11.8-300.fc26.x86_64 #1 SMP Thu Jun 29 20:09:48 UTC 2017 x86_64
  Processor ID        : x86 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7, GenuineIntel
  Virtual Machine     : Java 1.8.0_121-b13 with Oracle Corporation Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM mixed mode
  Window System       : Fedora Project (11903000), display :0

Fault Count: 1

Abnormal termination:
Segmentation violation

Register State (from fault):
  RAX = 00007f00ce345cb8  RBX = 0000000000000012
  RCX = 00007f00ce345d48  RDX = 000000000142b8a0
  RSP = 00007f00f73de7e8  RBP = 0000000000000002
  RSI = 00007ffc96d57ac8  RDI = 0000000000000002

     R8 = 0000000000000000   R9 = 0000000000000028
    R10 = 00000000016717b0  R11 = 0000000000000206
    R12 = 00007ffc96d57ac8  R13 = 000000000142b8a0
    R14 = 00007f00ce345cb0  R15 = 0000000001920660

    RIP = 00000000000010c0  EFL = 0000000000010246

     CS = 0033   FS = 0000   GS = 0000

Stack Trace (from fault):
[  0] 0x00000000000010c0 [unknown function] at [unknown module] (no module specified)

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This error occurs when your computer cannot load a certain font display library through MATLAB.

To resolve the issue, please navigate to MATLAB R2017b installation location in your system and remove the “libfreetype.so.6” library file shipped with MATLAB R2017b or later, so that MATLAB will use the system version of that library:

<matlabroot>/bin/glnxa64/

Note: Here <matlabroot> is the location in your system where MATLAB R2017b is installed.

Eg: ‘/usr/local/MATLAB/R2017B’

Following are the commands to execute in linux shell to perform the above mentioned operation: (You may need root privilege)

# cd  /usr/local/MATLAB/R2017b   (or wherever you may have installed MATLAB)
# cd bin/glnxa64
# mkdir exclude
# mv libfreetype* exclude/

Now, please start MATLAB normally. If you see any warnings on MATLAB command prompt, then please follow below link to troubleshoot:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/364551-why-is-matlab-unable-to-run-the-matlabwindow-application-on-linux

 

[Josh G.]

Works for me on Fedora 28 with Matlab 2018a.