Matlab equivalent to iPython Notebook

Is there anything similar to the iPhython Notebook for MatLab?

http://ipython.org/ipython-doc/dev/interactive/htmlnotebook.html#

Thank you, Franco

[Maj-Lena Linderson]

I have an exercise in Matlab that I need to make able for the students to do from home due to the Covid restrictions. I was thinking of using Live Editor as I have understood it as they will not have to install Matlab on their computer to run it. Is this correct? Is there in that case somewhere an instruction how to save or compile? Do the students need to install any other program and can it be run in Windows, Mac and Android or is there any limitations?

[David Garrison]

If your university has a Campus-Wide License, they should have access to MATLAB Online which allows them to run MATLAB from winthin a browser. Using MATLAB Online does not require them to install MATLAB locally on their machines. They only need a MathWorks account to access MATLAB Online. You can give them access to your Live Scripts sharing a folder in the MATLAB Online Desktop.

They can access MATLAB Online from https://matlab.mathworks.com

[Maj-Lena Linderson]

Thank you!

Maj-Lena

[Rene]

Thank you.

Answer 1

[David Garrison]

MATLAB has the Live Editor which allows you to create live scripts that combine code, output, and formatted text in an executable notebook. Code can be divided into manageable sections that can be run independently. Output and visualizations appear next to the code that produced them. Code and results can be enhanced with formatted text, headings, images, and hyperlinks. Equations can be added using the interactive editor or created using LaTeX. Live scripts can be exported to HTML, PDF, LaTeX, or Word.

Live scripts can contain interactive controls to allow others to experiment with parameters in your code. You can choose to hide the code to create simple applications and dashboards that can be shared with others.

The Live Editor provides contextual hints for function arguments, file names, and more. Figures and tables in the output are interactive. Those interactions generate MATLAB code automatically. That code can then be added back to your live script. Refactoring tools allow you to select blocks of code to create reusable functions. The Live Editor provides a fully integrated debugger to troubleshoot code.

In R2019b, we've added Live Editor Tasks which are apps that can be embedded in a script that allow you to interactively explore parameters and options, immediately see the results, and automatically generate the corresponding MATLAB code for the completed task and for the display of results.

[Royi Avital]

It is still lacking compared to the Jupyter Notebook experience. Also I don't understand why build one on your own instead of supplying official kernel for Jupyter.

See community based open source options in my answer.

[Maj-Lena Linderson]

I have an exercise in Matlab that I need to make able for the students to do from home due to the Covid restrictions. I was thinking of using Live Editor as I have understood it as they will not have to install Matlab on their computer to run it. Is this correct? Is there in that case somewhere an instruction how to save or compile? Do the students need to install any other program and can it be run in Windows, Mac and Android or is there any limitations?

[Maj-Lena Linderson]

I understand that they can read through the pdf but if I want them to change in the scripts and adapt. Is that doable without Matlab installed?

Answer 2

[Anne Urai]

Personally, I do not think Matlab's Publish function has the same advantages as the IPython notebook. However, it is quite easy to run Matlab code within an IPython notebook. See my instruction guide here http://anneurai.net/2015/11/12/matlab-based-ipython-notebooks/

[Liner]

Wow, if this becomes robust and widely supported, for those of us in academic environments with MATLAB licenses, this could be game changer. I have reluctantly been holding off on the MATLAB to python transition because of the DSP toolboxes and all my old code, this will be really nice to share my code with my colleagues/students. Thanks!

Answer 3

[Sarah Palfreyman]

Have you tried the MATLAB Live Editor?

http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/live-editor/

Answer 4

[Angel marchev]

Still, as of today Matlab is lagging behind compared to R and Python for scientific computing and IMHO it si because of poor (to none) integration in Jupyter.... everyone in the world is using notebooks, and mathworks should not be going against its own (shrinking in number) users

[Ted Wong]

Matlab is afraid it will allow everybody sharing the same Matlab license without paying. It's a commerical decision.

Answer 5

[Royi Avital]

As written above, there is the option of MATLAB's Live Editor.

I find it to be really limited vs. iPython Notebook. They are not even close in their LaTeX capabilities and the quality of the experience in my opinion.

The nice thing about the iPython Notebook (More accurately, Jupyter Framework) framework is it is open.

So there are Open Source solutions which implements MATLAB Kernel which gives you the ability to use MATLAB just as you would use Python / R / Julia. Have a look at:

• Calysto MATLAB Jupyter Kernel.
• iMATLAB MATLAB Jupyter Kernel.

Each of them works perfectly.

Enjoy.

Answer 6

[David Garrison]

Royi and Anne,

Thank you for your comments. For those people out there who use Jupyter and MATLAB, the MATLAB kernel for Jupyter may be their preferred approach. One thing Jupyter has demonstrated is the power of the notebook paradigm. We built the Live Editor for MATLAB users to create notebooks for sharing, demonstraton, and teaching. We can give our users some things that Jupyter with the MATLAB kernel cannot provide including embedded UI controls, live editor tasks, and code generation from plot interactions. What's more, we can give Live Editor users a much tighter integration with the larger MATLAB ecosystem with tools like code completion, file comparison, command line execution and more.

Thanks.

[Royi Avital]

Hi David,

While all the things you wrote are true I still find the experience of Jupyter to be much better than MATLAB's Live Editor.

It lacks so much in the LaTeX integration, being able to dispaly on GitHub, etc... that I really don't see the point not join the herd and work with Jupyter.

[Ted Wong]

The Live Editor is not even close to Jupyter.

Answer 7

[Mike Croucher]

An update on this question: MathWorks have now released an official MATLAB kernel for Jupyter. Details at Official MathWorks MATLAB kernel for Jupyter released » The MATLAB Blog - MATLAB & Simulink