timeout

Interrupt execution of script, function or MATLAB expression after specified period of time. Similar to timeout from GNU coreutils.
This function uses undocumented command window method to programatically send Ctrl+C after specified period of time.

There are other ways of sending Ctrl+C programmatically, including Java Robot or SIGINT on Linux, but they require changes to the script or function that we want to interrupt.

This submission serves as a PoC and demonstration. Adapt to your specific needs if necessary.

Usage examples

Run the 'longComputations' script for no more than 5 seconds:
>> timeout('longComputations',5)

Interrupt execution of infinite pause after 3 seconds:
>> timeout('pause(inf)',3)