Is 2010a version compatible with 2019b version?

Hello,

I'm going to use new version of Mathlab 2019b, but I want to be sure if all routines/codes in Mathlab 2010a can be run in this new version and in the opposite way.

Thank you very much!

Lucas

[Adam]

Well obviously a lot has changed in 9 years so 'No' would be the simple answer if you don't want to actually find out for yourself by trying. Generally Mathworks look to ensure backwards compatibility with upgrades, but over that big a jump some functions will likely have been phased out entirely or their syntax changed. also there was a major graphics change between that time.

Depending what functions you are using your code may work perfectly on either, but is it guaranteed? No. You'd just have to try it.

If they were perfectly compatible with each other in all aspects in both directions though you'd have to ask what Mathworks have been doing in those 9 years!

[Rik]

I fully agree with Adam. You can check the release notes for the functions you're using. Especially everything related to the graphics requires attention, due to the introduction of HG2 in R2014b. In general most functions will still work from 2010a in a newer release.

Sidenote: R2019b isn't released yet. I would expect that to be released somewhere in September or October. The pre-release will of course be available earlier.

[Adam]

On another note, it would be a good idea anyway to go over code that old again because there may well be newer functions in R2019a that can perform tasks a lot faster than what you may have used in 2010a

[lucasaloia]

Thank you very much for your answers!

I've also asked support and they told me that purchasing a license I can install and activate earlier releases also, so no problem at all!

Thanks again!

Answer 1

[Jan]

No, Matlab R2010a and 2019a are not 100% compatible. Of course they are not backward compatible: R2019a uses the modern string type and e.g. double quotes to define strings, which have been forbidden in R2010a. In addition in R2014a the new HG2 graphics system has been introduced, which define graphic handles as new object instead of using the old double handles, which have been prone to bugs.

Many new functions have been added to the toolboxes and some old function are not working anymore or at least show a warning, e.g. dataread, histc, ...

The only way to check the compatibility is to start the unit-test functions for all of your functions, which check the results for valid inputs and the errors for invalid inputs. If all your toolbox function or subfunctions have been tested successfully, an integration test for the GUIs and the complete program will give the next statement about the compatibility. Finally you get even more secure, if you read all the documets in the Release history, which mention many changed, but not all.

If you do not have automatic unit-tests or integration tests for the software, any assumption about the compatibility is guessing only. You cannot be sure even, that the code works reliably at all.

[lucasaloia]

Thank you very much!