How to integrate Matlab code library with Android?

Question

I have an algorithm and some other code which is in MATLAB and I want to use it in my Android application.

How can I do this?

• Can I make a jar file from MATLAB for use with Android?
• I have to do something else?

Answer 1

If you have an additional product, MATLAB Builder JA for Java, you can produce a .jar file from your MATLAB code.

However, the .jar file requires the MATLAB Compiler Runtime (a freely redistributable component that you get with MATLAB Compiler and MATLAB Builder products) to be present. The MCR has a much larger footprint than is suitable for the typical Android device (it's like a copy of MATLAB itself, without the user interface).

You could think about either

1. Running your MATLAB .jar file remotely on a server, and having your Android application connect to it, or
2. Instead of using MATLAB Compiler and Builder products, use MATLAB Coder, which will convert a subset of the MATLAB language directly into C code. This C code doesn't require the MCR, and could be compiled to run directly on Android. Make sure your MATLAB algorithm falls within, or can be expressed in, the appropriate subset of the MATLAB language.

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Edit: As of R2015a, functionality from MATLAB Builder JA for Java has been replaced by a new product, MATLAB Compiler SDK.

Answer 2

I am the developer of Addi. http://addi.googlecode.com Addi is quickly becoming a full port of Octave (which is an open source tool that uses Matlab syntax). Addi is going to have intents for other applications to use it as their math engines or plotting engines. So, if you can run your code on Octave, then very soon you will be able to run it on Android.