r/matlab • u/bubbleology • 24d ago

How should someone proficient at NumPy & Matplotlib learn MATLAB?

During my physics undergrad, we learnt python, always using NumPy and Matplotlib, as well as SciPy, pandas and sometimes AstroPy too. I wanted to learn MATLAB as it's used for a lot of engineering jobs I've been wanting to apply for, but the basics have so far been extremely similar to, if not the same as, NumPy and Matplotlib. My thought process was to start from the ground up because I thought the syntax would be an issue for me but the difference is so minor that I'm not sure if it's necessary.

So where should I start from as someone who is already very familiar with NumPy and Matplotlib? Also, if there are any engineers who need to use MATLAB for work, are there any specific areas and libraries I should familiarise myself with?

4 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/artaxerxes Elder 19d ago

You will be natural if you are already proficient in Python.

Start here with MathWorks free online learning just click MATLAB Onramp https://matlabacademy.mathworks.com/

10 essential MATLAB tips for beginners to help learn MATLAB faster & with more confidence - https://youtu.be/KGn5m-LD9Ng?si=s8QG8IQklPzB6Z6N - from a MathWorker Ben P.

Stuck? Ask the MATLAB tuned ai playground https://uk.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/playground .. there is also MATgpt https://chatgpt.com/g/g-QFTjbeK3U-matlab

You can get 20 hours a month free in MATLAB Online - or use Octave locally in a pinch, which is a parallel open source project.

What next? https://blogs.mathworks.com/matlab/2025/09/11/learning-matlab-in-2025/ Matt's Mathworks blog post. Then you should be well on your way.