Questions for MATLAB/Simulink users

**Vogue** · 10-26-2010, 11:05 AM

I'm applying for a job at the company that designs MATLAB and Simulink. I have never used any of these products. I'm not an engineer, so I've never really had much use for them. Still, I think I should know more intimately about the programs beyond just what I can read on the website (and even other websites.)

So, for MATLAB and Simulink users... What are the strengths of one/both of these programs? What are the weaknesses? What do you use these programs for? (As in how are you applying what these programs can do, not the obvious use of the programs.) If you could change one thing about the program what would it be? Anything else important?

If you use jargon specific to the program please describe what you mean if possible, but if you don't want to don't. I can figure it out.

**Ozymandias** · 10-31-2010, 03:11 PM

Regarding MATLAB: To be succinct, it's a glorified calculator.

As one of the basics for many engineers, learning to use MATLAB serves as a good ease-in to C and to programming in general. It's geared toward making it easy to write and modify/play around with simple data-handling programs.
Academically, since everything MATLAB does is matrix-based it naturally lends itself to use in linear algebra, though Maple is far better suited to anything in the realm of mathematics or requiring a friendly user-interface imo.

I'll leave Simulink to those with formal training.

**Ice Wolf** · 11-06-2010, 03:04 PM

I don't use simulink, but I am using matlab daily.

The good:

Matlab is good at beginning. Basic calculations can be performed rather fast.

Variety of toolboxes to choose from is extensive.

The bad:
It simply sucks at more complex problems. No pointers or references makes it's usefulness with large data-sets questionable.

Toolbox documentation is usually crappy. Mathematica is light years ahead in this matter.

Many different authors -> things can be redundant and syntax somewhat inconsistent.

Maltab's OOP is a joke. I threw two months away because I couldn't believe that some basic OOP things just don't exist. e.g. object deep copy, friend class...

Idea is very good, but I think that some aspects of it should radically change. Even though it is not meant as full computer language, it would be nice if somebody would start thinking about it. And they should upgrade the damn plot functions.

Sorry for my grumbling, it was just a day full of matlab and I really needed to vent.
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**Vogue** · 11-06-2010, 03:56 PM

Even if I don't get the job, which is in the marketing department not development, I'll make sure that the comments here get passed along to my pals who do work in development. Since all of these are complaints I've heard. haha.

**Ice Wolf** · 11-06-2010, 04:42 PM

There was "The good" section too. You plan to use that if you get accepted
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**Vogue** · 11-06-2010, 04:54 PM

Regardless of whether I get the job or not, I'm going to bring up these issues with my friends, and see what their thoughts are.

The good is good. Needs no discussion.

For the record: from my personal research I think both programs are actually quite good overall, and the company is nothing short of amazing.

**Ice Wolf** · 11-06-2010, 11:52 PM

Well, good luck with your job hunting. And if you need more grumbling about Matlab (I prefer to call it non-biased user feedback); I am always somewhere around here.

**rbc** · 11-10-2010, 05:41 PM

	Originally Posted by Vogue To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I think both programs are actually quite good overall, and the company is nothing short of amazing.

Yes! I am a sometime user of their products, which are pretty good as such tools go, but I have heard nothing but praise about the company as a workplace from my several friends on staff there. I actually met Cleve Moler, the inventor of Matlab, on a flight to Amsterdam last year. He was sitting behind me, and asked about the computer game I was playing (Battle for Wesnoth). Then started talking about math, numerical computing, and our transitions from academia to the business world. He is a really great guy, but he's basically retired now. Good luck, and have fun!

**JonD** · 11-10-2010, 05:57 PM

I had to learn both products when getting my electrical engineering degree.

I won't add anything to what MATLAB can do as I believe that question has been answered sufficiently.

Simulink, allows you to connect 'blocks' together to simulate systems. In our case, the systems were communications systems. It was great for electrical engineering, because we could directly use mathematics to influence a system instead of figuring out the right hardware combination to achieve the same result in the lab. I'm not sure if it has design capabilities, as we never used it for that..

**Palaver** · 01-04-2011, 04:28 AM

I personally like MATLAB. It also helps you do neat matrix transformations (of course) and has lots of pre-written code for many computational tasks. It's also well-documented on the internet

10-26-2010, 11:05 AM	#1
Vogue Member [07%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 312	I'm applying for a job at the company that designs MATLAB and Simulink. I have never used any of these products. I'm not an engineer, so I've never really had much use for them. Still, I think I should know more intimately about the programs beyond just what I can read on the website (and even other websites.) So, for MATLAB and Simulink users... What are the strengths of one/both of these programs? What are the weaknesses? What do you use these programs for? (As in how are you applying what these programs can do, not the obvious use of the programs.) If you could change one thing about the program what would it be? Anything else important? If you use jargon specific to the program please describe what you mean if possible, but if you don't want to don't. I can figure it out.
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10-31-2010, 03:11 PM	#2
Ozymandias New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 13	Regarding MATLAB: To be succinct, it's a glorified calculator. As one of the basics for many engineers, learning to use MATLAB serves as a good ease-in to C and to programming in general. It's geared toward making it easy to write and modify/play around with simple data-handling programs. Academically, since everything MATLAB does is matrix-based it naturally lends itself to use in linear algebra, though Maple is far better suited to anything in the realm of mathematics or requiring a friendly user-interface imo. I'll leave Simulink to those with formal training.
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11-06-2010, 03:04 PM	#3
Ice Wolf Member [09%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 371	I don't use simulink, but I am using matlab daily. The good: Matlab is good at beginning. Basic calculations can be performed rather fast. Variety of toolboxes to choose from is extensive. The bad: It simply sucks at more complex problems. No pointers or references makes it's usefulness with large data-sets questionable. Toolbox documentation is usually crappy. Mathematica is light years ahead in this matter. Many different authors -> things can be redundant and syntax somewhat inconsistent. Maltab's OOP is a joke. I threw two months away because I couldn't believe that some basic OOP things just don't exist. e.g. object deep copy, friend class... Idea is very good, but I think that some aspects of it should radically change. Even though it is not meant as full computer language, it would be nice if somebody would start thinking about it. And they should upgrade the damn plot functions. Sorry for my grumbling, it was just a day full of matlab and I really needed to vent. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ice Wolf is offline post a comment

11-06-2010, 03:56 PM	#4
Vogue Member [07%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 312	Even if I don't get the job, which is in the marketing department not development, I'll make sure that the comments here get passed along to my pals who do work in development. Since all of these are complaints I've heard. haha.
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11-06-2010, 04:42 PM	#5
Ice Wolf Member [09%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 371	There was "The good" section too. You plan to use that if you get accepted To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Ice Wolf is offline post a comment

11-06-2010, 04:54 PM	#6
Vogue Member [07%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 312	Regardless of whether I get the job or not, I'm going to bring up these issues with my friends, and see what their thoughts are. The good is good. Needs no discussion. For the record: from my personal research I think both programs are actually quite good overall, and the company is nothing short of amazing.
Vogue is offline post a comment

11-06-2010, 11:52 PM	#7
Ice Wolf Member [09%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 371	Well, good luck with your job hunting. And if you need more grumbling about Matlab (I prefer to call it non-biased user feedback); I am always somewhere around here.
Ice Wolf is offline post a comment

11-10-2010, 05:57 PM	#9
JonD Member [29%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,168	I had to learn both products when getting my electrical engineering degree. I won't add anything to what MATLAB can do as I believe that question has been answered sufficiently. Simulink, allows you to connect 'blocks' together to simulate systems. In our case, the systems were communications systems. It was great for electrical engineering, because we could directly use mathematics to influence a system instead of figuring out the right hardware combination to achieve the same result in the lab. I'm not sure if it has design capabilities, as we never used it for that..
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01-04-2011, 04:28 AM	#10
Palaver New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 29	I personally like MATLAB. It also helps you do neat matrix transformations (of course) and has lots of pre-written code for many computational tasks. It's also well-documented on the internet
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