MATLAB: What are symbolic links, and why does the MATLAB installer ask if I want to create them

MATLABunix

I would like to know what symbolic links are, and the MATLAB installer asks if I want to create them.

Best Answer

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.

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Matlab installation in linux ubuntu

It's because your MATLAB installation directory is not added in your $PATH. Assuming the MATLAB installation directory is /usr/local/MATLAB/R2019b, you need to add the sub directory "bin".

If you have sudo privilege, create a symbolic link in /usr/local/bin.

sudo ln -s /usr/local/MATLAB/R2019b/bin/matlab /usr/local/bin/matlab

If you don't have sudo privilege, change your PATH environment dynamically.

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/MATLAB/R2019b/bin

It might be convinient to add path in your bashrc file.

vi ~/.bashrc

and add the export PATH command written above in bashrc.

Then, save the bashrc and reload.

source ~/.bashrc

MATLAB: How to create symbolic links automatically using the silent installer

Currently, it is not possible to create symbolic links automatically using the installer_input.txt file. The only way to create symbolic links is to create the link manually.