I have a nice .net assembly of core matlab functions, created of course with the matlab compiler. For functions that accept numbers or arrays of numbers, this is fine; I can write code in c# without having to revert to matlab (well, the RCM has to be installed; that’s fine).
For functions that must reference other functions, however, the only way I can find so far to get a c# programme going is to compile both functions into the assembly. To explain better, let’s say I have a library in which I’ve stored the ode45 routine. If I want to solve a specific equation, let’s say something simple like dy/dx = -y, then I have to create a matlab script file which may be written as follows:
function dydx = diffeq(x, y)
dydx = -y
[obviously the analytical solution exists, but for the sake of this example let’s say I want to solve it this way]
Now in order to solve this equation, I would have to add this function as a method in my class to be compiled into the .net assembly. This of course ruins the generality of my library; I want application-specific equations in a different library to my core math function library. That is, the ODE45 method should reside in a “more core” library than the library in which the “diffeq” method would reside.
More than that, I would much prefer to create the “diffeq” method in a c# class that I can edit directly in e.g. VS2012. I would like to edit the equation directly rather than having to enter matlab each time and recompile an assembly.
To solve this problem, I have gone to the extent of decompiling the assembly which contains both the ode45 code and my differential equation method; it turns out the assembly is nothing but an interface to the MCR; the diffeq methods in the assembly return something like the following:
return mcr.EvaluateFunction(numArgsOut, “diffeq”, new object[0]);
We note that the function/method “diffeq” is not part of the MCR; MCR does not change. However, I can’t find the equation anywhere in the assembly.
Which begs the question “Dude, where’s my function?”
There is a ‘resources’ component of the assembly in which we find [classname].ctf, and in that we’ll find some machine code. This looks encrypted, but the equation might be hidden in there. If so, that would be a deliberate attempt to prevent when I am attempting, and kudos to MathWorks for making it impossible for me to avoid having to enter the matlab application!
However, there doesn’t seem to be anything in licensing to prevent what I want to do; I think it would be great if mathworks would allow as open an approach as that, but in the interrim, does anyone know how to do this?
