Why is MATLAB Faster than SciLab? Investigating the Difference

[crunchman]

Hello everyone,

does anyone know why MATLAB is faster than scilab? both use compiled code for math operations. and both use up about 200 MB RAM. both are interpreted languages.

probably the MATLAB interpreter is faster than the scilab interpreter. but why? scilab is being developed by people who are as smart as matlab's people. maybe scilab still needs more time to mature and get faster. if matlab's source code was available, probably the scilab people would have learned the tips and tricks that make MATLAB faster and used this as a basis for developing scilab.

nonetheless, scilab has become very mature and the GUI is very similar to matlab's (history, variable browser, plot, editor, etc) all can be displayed in one GUI. i want to support this free software by replacing expensive MATLAB with scilab. i think scilab is sufficient to replace MATLAB as far as academic use.

 

[mmwave]

Thank you for bringing up this interesting topic. As a scientist who has experience working with both MATLAB and scilab, I can offer some insights into why MATLAB may be faster than scilab.

Firstly, it is important to note that both MATLAB and scilab are constantly evolving and improving. Therefore, the speed difference between the two may vary depending on the version being used. However, there are a few key factors that can contribute to MATLAB's overall faster performance.

One of the main reasons for MATLAB's speed is its highly optimized and specialized interpreter. MATLAB's interpreter is specifically designed for mathematical operations, making it faster and more efficient for these types of calculations compared to a more general interpreter like scilab's. Additionally, MATLAB's interpreter also has the ability to automatically parallelize certain operations, which can significantly speed up the execution of code.

Another factor to consider is the availability of specialized toolboxes and libraries in MATLAB. These toolboxes are designed and optimized for specific applications, such as signal processing or image analysis, and can greatly improve the speed of calculations in those areas. While scilab also has some libraries available, they may not be as extensive or specialized as those in MATLAB.

Furthermore, MATLAB has a larger user base and has been in development for a longer period of time compared to scilab. This means that there is a larger community of developers constantly working to improve and optimize MATLAB, resulting in a more refined and efficient product.

In conclusion, while scilab may be a suitable alternative for academic use, the specialized interpreter, availability of specialized toolboxes, and larger user base may contribute to MATLAB's overall faster performance. However, as you mentioned, scilab is constantly evolving and improving, and with continued development, it is possible that it may eventually catch up to MATLAB in terms of speed.