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Scilab vs MATLAB: Key Differences

The key differences between Scilab and MATLAB summarized in 3 sentences are: 1) Functions in Scilab are defined as variables rather than m-files and are not automatically loaded, requiring the use of getf to execute them. 2) Comments begin with // in Scilab and % in MATLAB, and predefined variables have a % prefix in Scilab while MATLAB uses 0 and 1 for Boolean values. 3) While most built-in functions are identical, some have different syntax between the programs like all and any called as and and or in Scilab respectively.

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260 views4 pages

Scilab vs MATLAB: Key Differences

The key differences between Scilab and MATLAB summarized in 3 sentences are: 1) Functions in Scilab are defined as variables rather than m-files and are not automatically loaded, requiring the use of getf to execute them. 2) Comments begin with // in Scilab and % in MATLAB, and predefined variables have a % prefix in Scilab while MATLAB uses 0 and 1 for Boolean values. 3) While most built-in functions are identical, some have different syntax between the programs like all and any called as and and or in Scilab respectively.

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Max
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What are the main differences between Scilab and MATLAB?

Functions
Functions in Scilab are NOT Matlab m-files but variables. One or several functions can be defined in a single
file (say [Link]). The name of of the file is not necessarily related to the the name of the functions. The
name of the function(s) is given by

function [y]=fct1(x)
...
function [y]=fct2(x)
...

The function(s) are not automatically loaded into Scilab. Usually you have to execute the command
getf("[Link]") before using it.

Functions can also be defined on-line (or inside functions) by the command deff.

To execute a script file you must use exec("filename") in Scilab and in Matlab you just need to type the
name of the file.

Comment lines

Scilab comments begins with: //

Matlab comments begins with: %

Variables
Predefined variables usually have the % prefix in Scilab (%i, %inf, ...). They are write protected.

Strings

Strings are considered as 1 by 1 matrices of strings in Scilab. Each entry of a string matrix has its own
length.

Boolean variables

Boolean variables are %T, %F in Scilab and 0, 1 in Matlab. Indexing with boolean variables may not produce
same result. Example x=[1,2];x([1,1]) [which is NOT x([%T,%T])] returns [1,1] in Scilab and [1,2] in
Matlab. Also if x is a matrix x(1:n,1)=[] or x(:)=[] is not valid in Matlab.

Polynomials
Polynomials and polynomial matrices are defined by the function poly in Scilab (built-in variables). They are
considered as vectors of coefficients in Matlab.

Empty matrices
[ ]+1 returns 1 in Scilab and [ ] in Matlab.

Plotting

Except for the simple plot and mesh (plot3d) functions, Scilab and Matlab are not compatible.

Scicos
Scicos (Scilab) and Simulink (Matlab) are not compatible.

A dictionary

Most built in functions are identical in Matlab and Scilab. Some of them have a slightly different syntax.
Here is a brief, partial list of commands with significant different syntax.

Matlab Scilab "equivalent"

all and

any or

balance balanc

clock unix('date')

computer unix_g('machine')

cputime timer

delete unix('rm file')

dir unix_g('ls')

echo mode

eig spec or bdiag

eval evstr

exist exists + type

fclose file('close')

feof
ferror

feval evstr and strcat

filter rtitr

finite (x < %inf)

fopen file('open')

fread read

fseek file

ftell

fwrite writeb

global

home

isglobal

isinf(a) a == %inf

isnan(a) a ~= a

isstr(a) type(a) == 10

keyboard pause + resume

lasterr

lookfor apropos

more lines

pack stacksize

pause halt

qz gspec+gschur

randn rand

rem modulo

setstr code2str

strcmp(a,b) a == b

uicontrol

uimenu getvalue

unix unix_g

version

which whereis
nargin [nargout,nargin]=argn(0)

nargout

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