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Create Web-Based Tool Using RESTful API, JSON, and JavaScript

This example shows how to create a web application that calculates the price of a bond from a simple formula. It uses the MATLAB® Production Server™ RESTful API and JSON Representation of MATLAB Data Types to depict an end-to-end workflow of using MATLAB Production Server. You run this example by entering the following known values into a web interface:

  • Face value (or value of bond at maturity) — M

  • Coupon payment — C

  • Number of payments — N

  • Interest rate — i

The application calculates price (P) based on the following equation:

P = C * ( (1 - (1 + i)^-N) / i ) + M * (1 + i)^-N
Use the sliders in the web application to price different bonds.

Step 1: Write MATLAB Code

Write the following code in MATLAB to price bonds. Save the code using the filename pricecalc.m.

function price = pricecalc(face_value, coupon_payment,...
                           interest_rate, num_payments)
    M = face_value;
    C = coupon_payment;
    N = num_payments;
    i = interest_rate;
    
    price = C * ( (1 - (1 + i)^-N) / i ) + M * (1 + i)^-N;

Step 2: Create a Deployable Archive with the Production Server Compiler App

To create the deployable archive for this example:

  1. On the Apps tab, select the Production Server Compiler App.

  2. In the Application Type list, select Deployable Archive.

  3. In the Exported Functions field, add pricecalc.m.

  4. Under Archive information, change pricecalc to BondTools.

  5. Click Package.

The generated deployable archive, BondTools.ctf is located in the for_redistribution folder of the project.

Step 3: Place the Deployable Archive on a Server

  1. Download the MATLAB Runtime, if needed, at https://www.mathworks.com/products/compiler/mcr. See Supported MATLAB Runtime Versions for MATLAB Production Server for more information.

  2. Create a server using mps-new. See Create Server Instance Using Command Line for more information. If you have not already setup your server environment, see mps-setup for more information.

  3. If you have not already done so, specify the location of the MATLAB Runtime to the server by editing the server configuration file main_config and specifying a path for --mcr-root. See Server Configuration Properties for details.

  4. Start the server using mps-start, and verify it is running with mps-status.

  5. Copy the BondTools.ctf file to the auto_deploy folder on the server for hosting.

Step 4: Enable Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) on the Server

Enable Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) by editing the server configuration file, main_config and specifying the list of domain origins from which requests can be made to the server. For example, setting the cors-allowed-origins option to --cors-allowed-origins * allows requests from any domain to access the server. See cors-allowed-origins and Server Configuration Properties for details.

Step 5: Write JavaScript Code using the RESTful API and JSON

Write the following JavaScript® code using the RESTful API and JSON Representation of MATLAB Data Types as a guide. Save this code as a JavaScript file named calculatePrice.js.

Code:

 calculatePrice.js

Step 6: Embed JavaScript within HTML Code

Embed the JavaScript from the previous step within the following HTML code by using the following syntax:

<script src="calculatePrice.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

Save this code as an HTML file named bptool.html.

Code:

 bptool.html

Step 7: Run Example

Confirm that the server with the deployed MATLAB function is running. Open the HTML file bptool.html in a web browser. The default bond price is NaN because no values have been entered as yet. Try the following values to price a bond:

  • Face Value = $1000

  • Coupon Payment = $100

  • Number of payments = 5

  • Interest rate = 0.08 (Corresponds to 8%)

The resulting bond price is $1079.85.

Use the sliders in the tool to price different bonds. Varying the interest rate results in the most dramatic change in the price of the bond.

View of the bond pricing tool. There are fields that contain values for a bond at maturity, coupon payment, number of payments, interest rate, and the calculated bond price. The bottom section displays HTTP status codes, messages, and payloads for the HTTP request and response.

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