What are symbolic links, and why does the MATLAB installer ask if I want to create them?
433 views (last 30 days)
Show older comments
I would like to know what symbolic links are, and the MATLAB installer asks if I want to create them.
Accepted Answer
MathWorks Support Team
on 27 Jun 2009
In the Unix architecture, symbolic links point to another file / script / program, such as a shortcut does in the Windows architecture. The reason the MATLAB installer offers to install them is because the /bin and /usr/bin directories are in the system path, while the MATLAB directory is not.
The /bin and /usr/bin directories contain common system programs, as well as links to other programs, so if you type a command such as 'ifconfig' from anywhere, it will check those directories (and others in the path) first.
This is convenient for starting MATLAB from any directory; if the links are installed, you do not have to change to the MATLAB directory in order to start MATLAB. Keep in mind you need to be running the installer as 'root' to install the symbolic links.
In order to manually create the symbolic link, browse to the /usr/local/bin/ folder and run the following command:
ln -s $MATLAB/bin/matlab matlab
where $MATLAB is the MATLAB installation directory.
6 Comments
Walter Roberson
on 22 May 2018
I recommend that you put the following in your ~/.bash_profile
alias matlab="/Applications/MATLAB_R2018a.app/bin/matlab -nojvm -nodesktop"
Once it is there, any new interactive shells for that user will allow you to type
matlab
to invoke MATLAB. You might want to play with the flags: when I am using MATLAB from the command window, I am wanting to use it in non-graphics mode, which is why I use the flags I do.
More Answers (1)
Shahbaz Hussain
on 1 Jul 2020
For whats purpose "alias matlab="/Applications sudo ln -s /Applications/MATLAB_R2018a.app/bin/matlab matlab ls: matlab: File exists alias matlab="/Applications/MATLAB_R2018a.app/bin/matlab -nojvm -nodesktop"MATLAB_R2018a.app/bin/matlab -nojvm -nodesktop" these links be used?
1 Comment
Walter Roberson
on 1 Jul 2020
Do not combine the alias and the symbolic link. In your ~/.bash_profile put
alias matlab="/Applications/MATLAB_R2018a.app/bin/matlab -nojvm -nodesktop"
After that, exit that terminal session and start a new terminal session. You will then be able to type
matlab
at the terminal command prompt, and it will invoke MATLAB R2018a
See Also
Categories
Products
Community Treasure Hunt
Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!
Start Hunting!