How to install MATLAB on Solus

DudeG

I'm an Engineering student and I need MATLAB in my machine.
If you want to install it on Solus I have some tips to help you during the procedure.
MATLAB is officially supported on ubuntu and few others therefore something went wrong at some point 😅
System Requirements and supported OS:
https://it.mathworks.com/support/requirements/matlab-system-requirements.html
After dowloading the .zip file from the main MathWorks site you can proceed as follow:

1.
Extract the .zip file and open the terminal from the folder you've just extracted.
run:
sudo ./install -tmpdir LOCATION_OF_YOUR_CHOICE
the problem here was that the matlab installer (after all account staff, licence, etc.) downloads its files in the /tmp directory filling ram, swap and my anger; by using "-tmpdir LOCATION_OF_YOUR_CHOICE" you can specify which path to use (I used my desktop).
During installation let the installer do its staff, idk why but my system went in kernel panic because I was doing other staff in between (downloading apps from the solus-sc the most).

2.
After installation the only way to run it, is by terminal.
But I wanted to launch it from my pretty budgie menu so I created a .desktop file.
If u want to know what a .desktop file is:
https://linuxcritic.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/anatomy-of-a-desktop-file/
I created the matlab.desktop file with this code in it:
[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Type=Application Name=MATLAB R2019a Comment=Matlab e Simulink Terminal=true Exec=/usr/local/MATLAB/R2019a/bin/matlab Icon=/usr/local/MATLAB/R2019a/bin/glnxa64/cef_resources/matlab_icon.png Categories=Engineering;Education;Development;
(to find the matlab_icon.png i searched it with nautilus the old fashion)
and I copied it in /usr/share/applications with:
sudo cp matlab.desktop /usr/share/applications
from the matlab.desktop folder (i used the desktop)

3.
Lauching matlab you may notice a warning in the rerminal.
Install the gtk2-engine-murrine from the solus-sc (Software Center) and it should do the work.

4.
If you like me have a high DPI screen you need to adjust icon dimensions:
From the MATLAB console you need to run these comands
s = settings;s.matlab.desktop.DisplayScaleFactor
and:
s.matlab.desktop.DisplayScaleFactor.PersonalValue = 2
Then restart MATLAB

I hope this may help you, I found installing matlab really...
enjoyable

brent

Add the "how-do-I-linux" tag to this as well. It will go into the HOW TO vault, which is a valuable category for many.
Great write-up.
Was installing "gtk2-engine-murrine" so late by accident, or would you recommend doing it sooner than launching the app?

DudeG

It worked anyway; after that it just looked more polished.

brent

DudeG gotcha

brent

DudeG
I see what you mean. Today I installed CVAssistant (a resume helper) via repo. Launched it thru terminal and it asked for the Murrine package. I did not oblige.
I used the cvassistant for a while, closed out of it, then installed the murrine package.
Graphics got crisper in the app. Murrine is some kind of thematic engine or something. Good to know.

DudeG

brent Little question: how do I add the 'how-to-linux' tag? I' cant edit the post anymore

algent

Also "Tutorial" Tag is needed.

Justin

brent Please report this being needed as a run-time dependency on the Bug Tracker.

kyrios

brent You can safely ignore murrine related WARNINGS

brent

Justin Will do it now, and write in my dispatch very low priority. What was interesting is The Dude (op) installed this not as a dependency but as a cosmetic embellishment---I found that interesting. Then I was asked (during CV install) for the same package the next day....

edit: reported