does the GUI read scripts?

Hello Guys, I have a question please. I started to watch tutorials on YouTube about the Graphical user interface on matlab, because I wrote many codes and I need to visualize them. my question is: my codes are written on scripts, I didn't make then as function, Can the Graphical user interface deal with scripts? or should I have them as functions? another question , how can I learn more about this. thank you guys.

[Stephen23]

Even if it did, you should not be using scripts. Scripts might be fun for playing around in the command window, but if you want to write code that is efficient, repeatable, and debuggable then you need to be writing functions or classes.

Rule of thumb: if your code is going to be used for more than one day, turn it into a function. Test it, document it, write clear input and output specifications.

Answer 1

[per isakson]

• "I am a PhD student and working on some traffic counting cards, the card has around 2900 rows ..." (excerpt from one of your questions a month ago) May I assume that you plan to work with real world data over a longer period of time? If so, I assume it would pay off to develop some good programming habits.
• "I started to watch tutorials on YouTube about the Graphical user interface ..." Do I hear a bit of rejection of the documentation made by The MathWorks? See Videos and Webinars
• "Can the Graphical user interface deal with scripts?" Yes, but don't do it! Read https://se.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/228557-experts-of-matlab-how-did-you-learn-any-advice-for-beginner-intermediate-users#answer_185153 and convert them to function. Remember that you must be able to understand and trust the code in two years from now.

"how can I learn more about this"

First, see Ways to Build Apps and then https://se.mathworks.com/help/pdf_doc/matlab/buildgui.pdf

There are three different ways to make graphical interfaces in Matlab:

1. App Designer (Matlab the new drag-and-drop tool)
2. GUIDE (the old tool. IMO: don't touch it! )
3. Create Apps Programmatically (see 41 Complete GUI Examples by Loginatorist and GUI Examples using Nested Functions by Steven Lord for a good approach)

[MAHMOUD ALZIOUD]

this is very useful Mr Per, thank you very much

[Walter Roberson]

(There are a number of things that App Designer cannot do yet; I have not bothered to work with it because of its major limitations so far.)

[per isakson]

Yes, that's correct. Neither have I done any serious work with the the new App Designer.

The MathWorks doesn't provide us with a road-map regarding "making graphical interfaces", but I find it hard to believe that App Designer and GUIDE will be developed in parallel. I believe GUIDE will eventually be dropped and it isn't worth start to use it now. See https://se.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/296406-app-designer-or-guide#answer_229177.

I'm very much in favor of the programmatic way. For small programs with a GUI I think the "nested approach" of Steven Lord is good. I've used it many times.

[MAHMOUD ALZIOUD]

Mr Walter, I just started with this thing and I think it is something very useful but hard at the same time.