Matlab and Python have their pros and cons. Matlab - low-cost inside academia more expensive outside but with some valuable tool boxes. Python is free and more and more of the functionality from Matlab is available as stable modules? Will they co-exist in the future when academia seems to transfer to Python for an increasing number of applications?
To be honest, I use matlab only when I need to create a quick prototype and then for doing trial and error for validating a fresh concept. The real implementation will never be made with matlab but with python, c++ or a similar language. In my opinion matlab and python (or python libs) serve for different purposes. Scripting is just one feature out of thousands of features in matlab but it is the only feature in python. People who are in my department uses both python and matlab scripts where in some other faculties people rely on only matlab toolboxes with zero scripting. Hence both python and matlab will exist in future but most probably the usage of matlab "outside" may be reduced.
To be honest, I use matlab only when I need to create a quick prototype and then for doing trial and error for validating a fresh concept. The real implementation will never be made with matlab but with python, c++ or a similar language. In my opinion matlab and python (or python libs) serve for different purposes. Scripting is just one feature out of thousands of features in matlab but it is the only feature in python. People who are in my department uses both python and matlab scripts where in some other faculties people rely on only matlab toolboxes with zero scripting. Hence both python and matlab will exist in future but most probably the usage of matlab "outside" may be reduced.
Nice answer Ravimal Bandara. I also use both MATLAB and PYTHON for different purposes. However, in my country, MATLAB is more preferable than Python in some academic functions. That's why, I think MATLAB will exist until we have a better alternative of it.
I think that Matlab and Python are tools that is need to the perform signals processing. They will be present in the future; the researchers have used this tools by its easy to use and comfort to show results. Particularly, I use Matlab and it have allowed me know more over this tool important. Also, depend its choose of the problem in particular to solve.
I agree in the line that both tools are needed and useful. However my question was actually related to that Matlab appears to be less used both in academia and industry due to cost. When Python is free, will Matlab keep the position and be sufficient developed if too few are paying for it. Academic licenses may not be sufficient.
Maybe it will depend also on the considered domain? There are companies like Typhoon HIL which are focused in Python for avoiding the classical issue "ah, you made the model with 2017b? I'm using 2014a". Nice question, I cannot clearly imagine the correct answer.
I don't completely follow the line that Python is just for scripting. It has essentially the same mathematical functions as Matlab. Simulink is clearly an asset of Matlab, the documentation and the interface may be better for the time being. However, I consider Python to dominate in some years due to object-oriented language structure, flexibility and the affordability both inside and outside the academia.
Yes, Python is free and very functional (I only tried Matlab once during my undergraduate study and exclusively use Python ever since) but having so many packages and their respective contributors makes it more difficult to resolve code bugs, cross-dependency issues, incompatibilities, etc. Matlab, on the other hand, has one corporal developer and it is/should be in his interest to maintain a bug-free tool, responsive user support, and the renown that comes with it.
Therefore, in my opinion, both Matlab and Python will co-exist for quite a long time.
A link discussing the trend we are observing of Python as the fastest growing programming language:
https://www.technotification.com/2018/06/python-fastest-growing-programming-language.html/amp
Useful links for beginners in the Python language are also available here.
Hi all, thanks for the nice discussion probably Im a bit late.
Matlab has a oop structure with easy accessors, in my opinion more intuitive than Python with its decorators. Anyway I think oop is not the point. Matlab has missed the data science wave with its high costs although its packages are better performing (only on a single client). I do not see Matlab surviving middle term. Young professionals and researchers go R or Python making a strong community. Just see projects in github, matlab is not “well represented”. Thanks
I consider that Sabino has given a quite precise description of the issue. Matlab has many nice features but the availability of well-working modules are not necessarily contributing to independent research. I will like to point on an issue of having modules available without having the knowledge of the detailed implementation:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Is_the_open_source_philosophy_contributing_to_critical_thinking_in_the_research_community?_ec=topicPostOverviewFollowedQuestions&_sg=dzwDIMJTxTH7uv_q_z5WtvK7fM8-YNpTkElY24GxujtjycG3GQ2ACPqzgn9DYRAQncuDAv-wgVIAQFiG.CSn9513kG6eAVb0rVNc41OP9Zk3d20u5J9TenRZl278Ns4N4hYVMCTB3JxspynEzhxJVw9KzWb6QEMtwx3_2Qj0
I'm gradually substituting Matlab with Python and Julia. The reasons are cost and performance.
I am not very sure about Python will replace matlab in near future or not but i thing this article may help you find the answer:
http://www.pyzo.org/python_vs_matlab.html
But what know is matlab is simple & easy to understand, write & implement.. So i don't think there can be something that might replace matlab except matlab itself.
A similar question with a nice response in Quora:
https://www.quora.com/Will-the-popularity-of-Python-eventually-make-MATLAB-obsolete
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