Programming-A-Starter-Project-Using-MATLAB-and-Python

A scaffolded project involving pulling and installing a Live Task, then using MATLAB and Python to access and analyze data from a web API.
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Updated 22 Mar 2024

Programming: A Starter Project Using MATLAB with Python

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MATLAB Versions Tested

Curriculum Module

Created with R2022a. Compatible with R2022a and later releases.

Information

This curriculum module contains interactive MATLAB® live scripts that teach fundamental concepts and basic terminology related to programming computers.

Prerequisite Domain Knowledge

This module assumes familiarity with basic programming concepts such as variables, data types, and functions, structures including arrays and structs, and control flows including if/else as well as how to use them in MATLAB. These ideas are all presented with interactive examples in Fundamentals of Programming, Programming: Organizing Data, Programming: Structuring Code.

Background

You can use these live scripts as demonstrations in lectures, class activities, or interactive assignments outside class. This module explores interactions between systems by using the OpenWeather API and calling into Python from MATLAB. Programming: A Starter Project Using MATLAB with Python covers using the Run Python Code Live Task to run provided Python code, accessing the OpenWeather API to check the weather, extracting useful data from the API call, and using App Designer to create an app with a personalized weather display.

The instructions inside the live scripts will guide you through the exercises and activities. Get started with each live script by running it one section at a time. To stop running the script or a section midway (for example, when an animation is in progress), use the EndIcon.png Stop button in the RUN section of the Live Editor tab in the MATLAB Toolstrip.

Contact Us

Solutions are available upon instructor request. Contact the MathWorks teaching resources team if you would like to request solutions, provide feedback, or if you have a question.

Prerequisites

This module assumes familiarity with basic programming concepts such as variables, data types, and functions, structures including arrays and structs, and control flows including if/else as well as how to use them in MATLAB. These ideas are all presented with interactive examples in Fundamentals of Programming, Programming: Organizing Data, Programming: Structuring Code.

Getting Started

Accessing the Module

On MATLAB Online:

Use the OpenInMO.png link to download the module. You will be prompted to log in or create a MathWorks account. The project will be loaded, and you will see an app with several navigation options to get you started.

On Desktop:

Download or clone this repository. Open MATLAB, navigate to the folder containing these scripts and double-click on MATLABwithPython.prj. It will add the appropriate files to your MATLAB path and open an app that asks you where you would like to start.

Ensure you have all the required products (listed below) installed. If you need to include a product, add it using the Add-On Explorer. To install an add-on, go to the Home tab and select AddOnsIcon.png Add-Ons > Get Add-Ons.

Products

MATLAB® is used throughout. Tools from the Symbolic Math Toolbox™ are used to convert between different unit systems in the weather applications.

Scripts

If you are viewing this in a version of MATLAB prior to R2023b, you can view the learning outcomes for each script here.

Introductory script
In this script, students will...
RunPythonLiveTask.png

- check that an appropriate version of Python is installed and visible within MATLAB

- explore the Run Python Code Live Task

- try running Python commands and a Python script from MATLAB

Investigatory script
In this script, students will...
image_4.png

- set up an account with OpenWeather to create your own API key

- use existing Python code to make an API call to OpenWeather

- use MATLAB to explore the data returned by the API call, including data type conversions and unit conversions

Application script
In this script, students will...
image_5.png

- use App Designer to build a custom app using the code from CheckingTheWeather.mlx

- create callbacks, properties, and functions

- design and organize a UI with drag and drop elements

- reuse code from CheckingTheWeather in a new context

Apps

Both of these apps require running Python from MATLAB, as set up in UsingMATLABwithPython and an OpenWeather API key, as set up in CheckingTheWeather.

  • CurrentWeatherAppDemo.mlapp shows the results of working through CreateCurrentWeatherApp.
  • WeatherDisplay.mlapp shows one elaborated version of the basic current weather app.

Additional Scripts

For those with a legacy OpenWeather API key, or the willingness to sign up for the OneCall 3.0 API, the original weather forecasting exploration from this courseware module is included as well.

WeatherForecast.mlx

SampleWeatherDashboard.mlx

License

The license for this module is available in the LICENSE.md.

Related Courseware Modules

Courseware Module
Sample Content
Available on:
Fundamentals of Programming
Learn the basics of how to make a computer
accept, store, and compute with information
image_6.png
OpenInFX.png
OpenInMO.png
GitHub
Programming: Structuring Code
Learn how to organize your code into functions,
debug, comment, and share
image_9.png
OpenInFX.png
OpenInMO.png
GitHub

Programming: Organizing Data
Learn more about strings, numeric data types,
memory, and ways of storing data
image_12.png
OpenInFX.png
OpenInMO.png
GitHub

Or feel free to explore our other modular courseware content.

Educator Resources

Contribute

Looking for more? Find an issue? Have a suggestion? Please contact the MathWorks teaching resources team. If you want to contribute directly to this project, you can find information about how to do so in the CONTRIBUTING.md page on GitHub.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Blake Naccarato on his suggestions for improvement.

© Copyright 2024 The MathWorks™, Inc

Cite As

Emma Smith Zbarsky (2024). Programming-A-Starter-Project-Using-MATLAB-and-Python (https://github.com/MathWorks-Teaching-Resources/Programming-A-Starter-Project-Using-MATLAB-and-Python/releases/tag/v2.0.0), GitHub. Retrieved .

MATLAB Release Compatibility
Created with R2022a
Compatible with R2022a and later releases
Platform Compatibility
Windows macOS Linux
Communities
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To view or report issues in this GitHub add-on, visit the GitHub Repository.
To view or report issues in this GitHub add-on, visit the GitHub Repository.