How can I install specific products within the MATLAB Runtime to save space?

The MATLAB Runtime installer provided on the MathWorks Website is monolithic, offering no options for selective installation and requiring several gigabytes of space. Is it possible to create a custom installer for the MATLAB Runtime that includes only the components necessary for my compiled MATLAB application(s), resulting in a smaller installation size?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

There are three ways to create a minimal installation for MATLAB Runtime:

Option 1: Create custom MATLAB Runtime installer (R2024b+)

Starting from R2024b, application developers can use the 'compiler.runtime.customInstaller' function to create a custom MATLAB Runtime installer with a minimal size footprint that installs only the MATLAB Runtime components required to run one or more applications created with MATLAB Compiler or MATLAB Compiler SDK. See this documentation page:

Create a MATLAB Runtime installer for the specified files generated by MATLAB Compiler

Option 2: Create a Docker container

Since R2023b, another option is to use the 'compiler.runtime.createDockerImage' function to create a custom MATLAB Runtime Docker® image that can run multiple applications. See this documentation page:

Create a Docker image that contains MATLAB Runtime

 

Option 3: Use Application Compiler GUI to create an application installer

Furthermore, there is the option to use Application Packaging which has been available since MATLAB R2016a. See the following MATLAB Answer for details:

How can I distribute my standalone application with a minimal MATLAB Runtime installation?