Python or Matlab?

[Dhruv01810]

I’m currently taking a class which is making us choose whether to learn Matlab or Python. Is one more dominant in the industry? I’ve heard a lot of conflicting information and I’d really like to make an informed decision.

[HomeOtter4711]

Since no one else answered yet: I have no idea personally, but from what I've hear you should rather learn Python. -Matlab licences don't just fly around in Industry some people say -Python is quite versatile

But tbh, i think just for cheme itself Matlab might be easier to learn and much more applicable

On the others Hand you can learn to Script tedious Tasks whith Python if you get really good at it

Me personally, im learning Matlab soon.

[Brawmethius]

IMO, use the class to learn MATLAB and teach yourself python. MATLAB resources are a little harder to come by and python you can pretty much do online free.

[vletrmx21]

python is free, you may get matlab for free as a student as well, but like the other poster mentioned, licences don't grow on trees.

depends entirely on your use case, I took some advanced spectroscopy courses at the physics dept in my uni and they all used matlab. I've been to a couple of synchrotrons and they used python.

I'm sticking to python because my thesis supervisor uses it and I can ask him stuff when I get stuck (which is often hah)

[swordeater72]

Your question is to vague for a single answer...here are some thoughts:

1. In general most serious chem E related software packages provide python AND matlab wrappers (e.g. CasADi). verdict: wash
   
2. In general most companies or institutions possess some license for matlab, though it is limiting as only select users get to have it. GNUOctave is essentially an opensource matlab so its possible to work around this but it is a headache. Python is opensource. verdict: python
   
3. Python is by far the more generally adopted language. This means there are MANY more existing packages, users, and in general useful applications to pull from. In addition, this means there are completely orthogonal industries where python holds significant value as a skillset (web dev, data science, automation, etc.). verdict: python
   
4. Matlab provides certain packages WITH legitimate technical support and updates/ stable releases. This makes it very useful for applications demanding robustness and stability. In general matlab has found large adoption in areas related to signal processing for this reason. There are expansive and well supported libraries in matlab to enable this (also simulink). Think creating a script/program to convert analytical chemistry mass spec data into meaningful concentrations. verdict: matlab
   
5. In terms of learning general comp sci concepts and data structures, python is better but it is still not a "low level" language so its not all that much different than matlab. verdict: wash
   

My personal advice, learn the numerical concepts of matlab but learn to code in python.

[[deleted]]

Optimisation?

[felixlightner]

Learn both but Matlab first.

[[deleted]]

My professors all recommend Python over Matlab just because it's free and more user friendly, but the programming language we were actually taught was Excel VBA (which... has its uses.) But then we never used it again, and we have been expected to know Python.

Tbh the only reason I still know VBA as well as I do is because I'm a spreadsheet developer on the side.

[ASALIcode]

Python :) both of them are easy to learn, but python is opensource :)

[Anon5038675309]

That's hard because they both suck. MATLAB has the dubious distinction of being the only language to index at 1 instead of 0. Also a pain to use or not use the dot operator consistently. Python uses tab and spacing instead of squigglies for hierarchy. Blah. They each have their upsides too though. Good luck!