Engineering Softwares

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MATLAB Alternatives:

1. GNU Octave:

                It can support '.m' extension. i.e., If you write a code in Matlab, no need to write a new code. You can use the same matlab file without any modification! GNU Octave is more matured than FreeMAT.

               Except for, more advanced features, it works very fine. Apparently most of us not going to use very advanced functions in Matlab. But it is a bit slow, just a bit slower than Matlab. This is the only disadvantage, I found. More over It occupies a very less space in your hard drive.

2. FreeMAT

              It looks very similar to Matlab. It can also execute the '.m' extension file. No need to do any modification in a matlab file. It doesnot support 'Control System' functions but Octave does.

              It takes 1minute to execute a file (An example file with 1600x1600 matrix), while Matlab takes 20 seconds and Octave takes 50 seconds to execute the same file.

              Moreover it does not plot, 3D plots but Octave does.

Example plots are given below,

Fig1. Matlab

Fig2. Octave (supports 3D plot similar to MATLAB)

Fig3. FreeMAT (only 2D plot - supported)

SIMULINK Alternative:

Scilab:

     (Open Scilab -> Applications -> Xcos)  It contains all the basic blocks similar to simulink. But it doesnot have very advanced blocks. But for students like us do not need very advanced blocks. These basic blocks are more than enough.

     Scilab can also be used as an alternative for matlab. But you have to make some minor changes in your Matlab file. Otherwise you can use Matlab to Scilab converter which is available in Scilab itself. 

Orcad Alternatives:

(PCB design softwares)

1. KiCAD,  2.gEDA   3.Eagle

         Among them, Eagle is easy to use for a new designer. But it had a board dimension limitation. KiCAD is more matured software. It has a 3D viewing option too. 

           gEDA is very similar to EDA.

         Other than these, many circuit simulation softwares and many purpose-oriented small softwares are available in Ubuntu.

Note: MATLAB linux version is available. Softawares listed above are available in 'Ubuntu Software Centre'

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