Using Python to bridge between MATLAB and Fortran can indeed be a practical solution, especially if you have existing Fortran code that you want to integrate into your MATLAB workflow.
Here's how you can implement the approach,
- You can compile your Fortran code into a shared library ('DLL' on Windows, 'SO' on Unix-like systems) and then use tools like “f2py” or “ctypes” to create a Python module that wraps the Fortran functions.
- MATLAB has support for calling Python functions directly using the “py” module. This allows you to pass data between MATLAB and Python seamlessly.
- You can pass data back and forth between MATLAB and Python using various data types such as arrays, scalars, and even more complex data structures like dictionaries or custom classes.
Performance comparisons between using Fortran MEX functions directly and calling them from MATLAB via Python depend on factors like computation nature, Fortran code efficiency, and data passing overhead. While calling external code from MATLAB incurs some overhead, the impact may vary based on your specific use case. Opting for MEX functions is preferable for critical performance and optimized Fortran code. However, using Python with Fortran libraries can be advantageous for flexibility, ease of integration, and diverse tasks such as data manipulation and visualization.
You can also refer to the below documentation if required,
Hope this Helps.
