Interoperability Part 2: Unifying MATLAB and Python for AI

May 3, 2024

In Part 2 of this series, MathWorks' Heather Gorr details how to take advantage of Python-based AI and ML libraries via MATLAB.

William G. Wong

Related To: Electronic Design

What you’ll learn:

Why interoperability between multiple programming languages is important.
How MATLAB integrates with AI platforms like TensorFlow and PyTorch.

MATLAB supports a range of programming languages. The challenge is mixing them. I talked with Heather Gorr, PhD, Principal MATLAB Product Marketing Manager at MathWorks, about using MATLAB with Python to deal with applications that take advantage of Python-based artificial-intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) libraries (see the video above). The other two parts of the series are listed below.

Why Interoperability Between Programming Languages is Important

Software

Interoperability Part 1: Using Multiple Programming Languages

MathWorks' Heather Gorr talks about interoperability issues that arise when using multiple programming languages.

Software

Interoperability Part 3: Integrating Two Programming Languages in Practice

Wrapping up this video series, MathWorks' Heather Gorr talks about development of projects with multiple programming languages.

One of the reasons for using different programming languages is to gain access to the support or services they may offer. For example, MATLAB is very easy to use and provides excellent support for developing algorithms with plenty of matrices.

It's possible to do just about anything with MATLAB, but many frameworks for things like AI and ML, including PyTorch, rely on programming languages such as Python for their native specifications (see figure).

This image depicts the integration of a TensorFlow model with Simulink for analyzing state-of-charge (SOC) measurements in a simulation and visualizing the output. The Python network is represented as one block within the larger system. — This image depicts the integration of a TensorFlow model with Simulink for analyzing state-of-charge (SOC) measurements in a simulation and visualizing the output. The Python network is represented as one block within the larger system.

Mixing and matching programming languages, tools, and libraries enables interdisciplinary teams to use the tool they find most effective while sharing those applications among the group.

Links

About the Author

William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

I am Editor of Electronic Design focusing on embedded, software, and systems. As Senior Content Director, I also manage Microwaves & RF and I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, programmers, developers and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

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I earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Computer Science from Rutgers University. I still do a bit of programming using everything from C and C++ to Rust and Ada/SPARK. I do a bit of PHP programming for Drupal websites. I have posted a few Drupal modules.

I still get a hand on software and electronic hardware. Some of this can be found on our Kit Close-Up video series. You can also see me on many of our TechXchange Talk videos. I am interested in a range of projects from robotics to artificial intelligence.