How can I debug MEX files without a Visual Studio license?

I already used up a trial license and need to learn how some MEX C++ code is being executed. It doesn't seem worth it to pay for Visual Studio so I can debug MATLAB code. Are there instructions to use eclipse or another opensource method?

MATLAB version 9.4, 2018a

[OCDER]

I'm not aware of anything else. You could just do what I do without VB - stare very closely at each line of code, work out what it does in the head, and place mexPrintf statements at checkpoints to see what's going on... Definitely challenges you to memorize and predict C++ behavior, as errors are costly. Maybe there's a better free way - I'll keep an eye on this post to see what the other's do.

[Daniel Poiesz]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into mexPrintf, the whole mex concept is new to me.

Answer 1

[CP]

I use Microsoft Visual c++ 2010 Express to debug c++ files that get compiled into mex functions. I believe the license is free. You just have to go to the website and sign up for the key, and they will send it your email.

[Daniel Poiesz]

Thank you, I should qualify for this license since I am only debugging open source code and not developing anything new.

For other readers the express line is now called Visual Studio Community.

[Rodrigo]

Unfortunartely, for enterprise companies, the Visual Studio Community requires a license at the time when this comments is being written.