Generating Code

Generate code and build standalone libraries and executables

C/C++ code generation is the core functionality of MATLAB^® Coder™. Generate code from the app, which you can open with coder, or from the command line, by using the codegen function. The app provides step-by-step guidance through the code generation process, including guidance for best practices, and clear visual aids for the code generation settings and options. The command line workflow enables simple, repeatable, and efficient initiation of code generation. The code generation workflow supports many different data types, including variable-size data and global data. The workflow also supports multiple entry-point (top-level) functions, multisignature MEX (polymorphic MEX) function generation, and customization of fundamental properties such as the array layout and array indexing of the generated code. In addition, you can generate code that uses key C++ language features such as classes, namespaces, and function overloading.

Apps

expand all

MATLAB Coder

Generate C code or MEX function from MATLAB code

Functions

expand all

Code Generation

`coder`	Open MATLAB Coder app
`codegen`	Generate C/C++ code from MATLAB code
`coder.target`	Determine if code generation target is specified target
`coder.allowpcode`	Control code generation from P-code files
`coder.config`	Create code generation configuration objects
`coder.extrinsic`	Declare function as extrinsic and execute it in MATLAB

MATLAB Programming for Code Generation

`coder.load`	Load compile-time constants from MAT-file or ASCII file
`coder.nullcopy`	Declare uninitialized variables in generated code
`coder.read`	Read data files at run time in generated code (Since R2023a)
`coder.write`	Create data files that the generated code reads at run time (Since R2023a)
`RTW.reservedIdentifiers`	Get reserved identifiers for code generation (Since R2023b)

Input Specification

`coder.newtype`	Create `coder.Type` object to represent type of an entry-point function input
`coder.varsize`	Resolve size mismatch errors and declare upper bounds
`coder.typeof`	Create `coder.Type` object to represent the type of an entry-point function input
`coder.resize`	Resize `coder.Type` object

External Code Integration

`coder.ceval`	Call C/C++ function from generated code
`coder.cinclude`	Include header file in generated code
`coder.cstructname`	Name C structure type in generated code
`coder.opaque`	Declare variable in generated code
`coder.ref`	Indicate data to pass by reference
`coder.rref`	Indicate read-only data to pass by reference
`coder.wref`	Indicate write-only data to pass by reference

Objects

expand all

Code Configuration

`coder.MexCodeConfig`	Configuration parameters for MEX function generation from MATLAB code
`coder.CodeConfig`	Configuration parameters for C/C++ code generation from MATLAB code
`coder.EmbeddedCodeConfig`	Configuration parameters for C/C++ code generation from MATLAB code with Embedded Coder

Type Definition

coder.OutputType Output type from an entry-point function to specify as an input type

Topics

Generating Code Basics

Generate C/C++ Code From MATLAB Code Using MATLAB Coder
The MATLAB Coder code generation workflow.
C++ Code Generation
Understand code generation considerations specific to C++.
Generate C/C++ Code
Generate standalone C/C++ code or a C/C++ MEX function at the command line or by using the MATLAB Coder app.
Set Up a MATLAB Coder Project
Set up a project in the MATLAB Coder app.

Switch Between Command Line and Project Workflows

Convert codegen Command to Equivalent MATLAB Coder Project
Use the codegen command with the -toproject option.
Convert MATLAB Coder Project to MATLAB Script
Generate code at the command line by using project settings.
Share Build Configuration Settings
Export project settings to a code generation configuration object or import the settings into a project.

Data-specific Workflows

Generate Code for Variable-Size Data
Generate code for data whose size might change at run time.
Generate Code for Global Data
Generate C/C++ code from MATLAB code that uses global data.
Generate Code for Enumerations
Generate code from MATLAB code that uses enumerations.
Generate Code That Preserves Entry-Point Input Data
Protect your input data from modification when generated code is called from your custom C/C++ code. (Since R2024b)

Extended Functionality

Generate Code for Multiple Entry-Point Functions
Generate C/C++ code for multiple entry-point functions.
Generate Code for Functions with Multiple Signatures
Generate code for multiple signatures MEX (polymorphic MEX).
Code Generation for Entry-Point Functions in Namespaces
Understand code generation considerations specific to functions in MATLAB namespaces.
Pass an Entry-Point Function Output as an Input
Simplify input type specification for multiple entry-point functions.
Generate Code That Uses Row-Major Array Layout
Generate C/C++ code with row elements stored contiguously in memory.
Generate Code That Uses N-Dimensional Indexing
Preserve array dimensions in generated code.
Perform Data Read and Write Operations in Generated Code
Learn about file formats and functions that you can use with the generated code for data I/O.

Extended C++ Functionality

Generate C++ Code with Class Interface
Generate C++ code that is packaged into a class.
Generate C++ Classes for MATLAB Classes
Generate a C++ class for a value class, handle class, or System object™ in your MATLAB code.
Use Dynamically Allocated C++ Arrays in Generated Function Interfaces
Understand and use dynamically allocated arrays from the generated C++ function interfaces.
Organize Generated C++ Code into Namespaces
Namespaces organize the generated code into logical parts and prevent name collisions.

Code Appearance

Reserved Keywords
Certain words in your code, that are C/C++ keywords, might be renamed in the generated code.

Featured Examples

Generate Code That Reads Data from a File

Read data from a comma separated values (CSV) file.

Open Live Script

Generate Code to Detect Edges on Images

Generate a standalone C library from MATLAB code that implements a simple Sobel filter that performs edge detection on images.

Open Live Script

C Code Generation for a MATLAB Kalman Filtering Algorithm

Generate C code for a MATLAB Kalman filter function, which estimates the position of a moving object based on past noisy measurements.

Open Live Script

Generate Code to Optimize Portfolio by Using Black Litterman Approach

Generate a MEX function and C source code from MATLAB code that performs portfolio optimization using the Black Litterman approach.

Open Live Script

Generate C++ Classes for MATLAB Classes That Model Simple and Damped Oscillators

See how object-oriented MATLAB code maps to generated C++ code and how to use the generated C++ code.

Open Live Script

Integrate Multiple Generated C++ Code Projects

Integrate the generated C++ code from two projects into a single larger project.

Open Live Script