MATLAB: Best way to Start using App Designer

Question

Jumping in with both feet, I have tried to create an app to run some simple code that manipulates vectors in the complex plane. I have reviewed the existing help and tutorials on the subject but it isn't entirely clear how to start the process. My intuition led me to think that you'd launch App Designer from the code you were working on, and then create the GUI to interface with the code. From what I have seen so far, it is the other way around….you create the GUI first on a blank slate, THEN you have to insert the "functional" code that you want the GUI to control. Any comments on my observations? Feel free to give advice!

Answer 1

"From what I have seen so far, it is the other way around"

Your observation is correct. In-App designer, you will first create graphics interface and then write callbacks and functions to respond to different events related to GUI. App designer is designed with the goal to minimize the need for code to create GUI itself, you can just drag and drop GUI elements, app inventor will create that code in the background for you. In this way, the user can focus on the actual features of GUI. It also helps in keeping code organized and minimize chances of errors.

"My intuition led me to think that you'd launch App Designer from the code you were working on, and then create the GUI to interface with the code."

This is not done in App designer since MATLAB already have tools to create GUI and link to your existing code. See GUIDE and Programmatically creating GUI.

To get started with App designer, you we need to have an understanding of these fractures of MATLAB

• OOP in MATLAB.
• Events, listeners, and callbacks.
• Handle classes are part of OOP, but due to their importance, I mentioned it separately.

These resources will help you get started for advanced App designer usage.