What are the main differences between Add-On Explorer and File Exchange?

It seems they are identical and they share seemingly everything!

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

The Add-On Explorer is an interface inside MATLAB that can read data from the File Exchange and present it in a useful way that emphasizes making decisions about whether to install it or not.

The Add-On Explorer also knows about MATLAB products and knows how to invoke the installer to add specific new products.

Otherwise they are the same

[Kareem Elgindy]

Dear Walter,

Your answer is indeed very helpful and the picture became much clearer now. I have the following concerns though:

1. We can only share files through File Exchange, but we can't do this via Add-On Explorer, right?
2. Can we install MathWorks Toolboxes through File Exchange (e.g. Deep Learning, Optimization Toolbox, etc.)? I know we can do this through Add-On.
3. File Exchange contains shared custom work of any type like functions, classes, apps, models, and so on. Does Add-On provide things like these?

Once again I'd like to deeply thank you for your swift reply that shed more light on the answer to this confusing question.

Regards,

Dr. Kareem

[Kareem Elgindy]

I made a quick comparison between the number of items in both platforms. Under the "Filter by Category", I clicked on "Science and Industry" under the "Applications" Section. In File Exchange I had 5,771 results, but in Add-On I had 5,785 results! The comparison results was shocking to me and it's driving me crasy!

[Walter Roberson]

You are correct that Add-On Explorer is a read-only view.

Some of the support packages and "optional features" such as Alexnet are available through File Exchange, but the products that MATLAB sells are not available through File Exchange.

Add-On Explorer is intended to handle anything that is in File Exchange.

In File Exchange I had 5,771 results, but in Add-On I had 5,785 results! 

14 Mathworks Toolboxes that are not published in the File Exchange, I would suspect.

[Kareem Elgindy]

Products that require a MathWorks license to use (not open source) are only available to MATLAB users with a valid license; they are not available in File Exchange. This matter impacts the number of files listed in the Add-Ons Explorer making it slightly larger I think.