Configure Code Generation and Build Settings

Configure MATLAB® Coder™ software by specifying the build type (MEX, lib, dll, or exe) and language (C or C++). Use additional settings to specify where the generated code should be built, apply target specific optimizations, enable variable-sizing support, include comments in the generated code, and apply other customizations. You can modify code generation and build settings at the command line or by using the MATLAB Coder app.

Build Type and Language

Available Build Types and Languages

The MATLAB Coder software can generate these types of builds:

  • C/C++ MEX function

  • Standalone C/C++ code, source code only

  • Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to a static library

  • Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to a dynamically linked library

  • Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to an executable

C is the default language for code generation with MATLAB Coder software. To generate C++ code, you must specify the code generation language explicitly in the MATLAB Coder app or at the command line. The MATLAB Coder software automatically locates and uses a supported installed compiler. To change the default compiler, see Change Default Compiler.

By default, the folders in which the code generator generates code are determined by the output type. Each time the code generator generates the same type of output for the same entry-point function or MATLAB Coder project, it overwrites the files from the previous build. To preserve files from a build, copy them to a different location before starting another build. Alternatively, change the names or locations of the generated files. See Generated Files and Locations.

Specify Output Type and Language

To specify build type:

  • In the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Language and select the output language. Click Output Type and select an output type.

  • At the command line, call the codegen function with the -config and -lang options.

  • Set the configuration parameters Language and Build type.

To generate source code only, without invoking the make command and without generating compiled object code, use one of these approaches:

  • In the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Generate Code.

  • At the command line, use codegen with the -c option.

  • Set the configuration parameter Generate code only.

When you iterate between modifying MATLAB code and generating C/C++ code and you want to inspect the generated code, this option can save you time. You can also use this option if you want to compile the generated code with your own compiler.

The table shows how to generate various different types of C or C++ builds for MATLAB function foo by using the codegen command.

Build Type to GenerateCommand
C MEX function 
codegen foo
Standalone C++ code, compiled to a static library; generate source code only 
codegen -config:lib -lang:c++ -c foo
Standalone C code, compiled to a dynamically linked library 
codegen -config:dll foo

Standalone C++ code, compiled to an executable and specifying the source file containing the main function

See Specifying main Functions for C/C++ Executables.

 
codegen -config:exe main.cpp -lang:c++ foo

Specify Additional Build Configuration Settings

Besides build type and language, you can specify additional build configuration settings in the MATLAB Coder app, at the command line, or using configuration object dialog boxes. Use the table to determine which specification method to use.

If you are usingUseDetails
The MATLAB Coder appThe project settings dialog boxSpecify Build Configuration Parameters in the MATLAB Coder App
The codegen function at the command line and want to specify a few parametersConfiguration objectsSpecify Build Configuration Parameters at the Command Line Using Configuration Objects
The codegen function in build scripts
The codegen function at the command line and want to specify many parametersConfiguration object dialog boxesSpecify Code Configuration Parameters Interactively

Specify Build Configuration Parameters in the MATLAB Coder App

To access the project build settings, in the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Settings to open the Code Generation Settings dialog box. The Code Generation Settings dialog box provides the set of configuration parameters applicable to the output type that you select. Code generation uses a different set of configuration parameters for MEX functions than it uses for the other build types. When you switch the build types, verify these settings.

Certain configuration parameters are used for both MEX and standalone code generation. If you change any of these parameters when the build type is MEX, and you want to use the same setting for standalone code generation, you must set the parameter again.

Changes to parameter settings are effective immediately.

Specify Build Configuration Parameters at the Command Line Using Configuration Objects

Use configuration objects with the codegen function to customize your environment for code generation. The following table lists the available configuration objects and example commands that you can use to create the configuration objects.

Configuration ObjectDescriptionExample Creation Commands

coder.MexCodeConfig

Specifies parameters for MEX code generation.

 
cfg = coder.config("mex");

coder.CodeConfig

If no Embedded Coder® license is available or you disable the Embedded Coder license, specifies parameters for C/C++ library or executable generation.

 
% To generate a static library
cfg = coder.config("lib");
% To generate a dynamic library
cfg = coder.config("dll")
% To generate an executable
cfg = coder.config("exe");

coder.EmbeddedCodeConfig

If an Embedded Coder license is available, specifies parameters for C/C++ library or executable generation.

 
% To generate a static library
cfg = coder.config("lib");
% To generate a dynamic library
cfg = coder.config("dll")
% To generate an executable
cfg = coder.config("exe");

Configuration object parameters are initialized to default values. To modify configuration objects to customize your environment for code generation:

  1. In the MATLAB workspace, create a configuration object.

  2. Modify the parameters of the configuration object as required, using one of these methods:

  3. Call the codegen function with the -config option. Specify the configuration object as the config argument.

    The -config option instructs codegen to generate code for the target MATLAB using the settings in the configuration object. For example, at the command line, create a static library configuration object cfg. Then, generate code for MATLAB foo using the codegen command with this configuration object. 

    cfg = coder.config("lib");
codegen -config cfg foo

Modifying Configuration Objects at the Command Line Using Dot Notation.  You can use dot notation to modify the value of one configuration object parameter at a time. The dot notation syntax uses the object variable and the property name connected with a dot (.):

object.PropertyName = value

For example:

  • Specify a main function for C code generation. 

    cfg = coder.config("exe");
cfg.TargetLang = "C";
cfg.CustomInclude = "c:\myfiles";
cfg.CustomSource = "main.c";
codegen -config cfg foo

    See Specifying main Functions for C/C++ Executables.

  • Automatically generate and launch code generation reports after generating a C++ static library.

    cfg = coder.config("lib");
cfg.TargetLang = "C++";
cfg.GenerateReport= true;
cfg.LaunchReport = true;
codegen -config cfg foo

Saving Configuration Objects

Configuration objects do not automatically persist between MATLAB sessions. To preserve your settings, write a script to recreate the configuration object or save the configuration object to a MAT file.

For example, assume that you create and customize a MEX configuration object mexcfg in the MATLAB workspace. To save the configuration object, at the MATLAB prompt, enter:

save mexcfg.mat mexcfg
The save command saves mexcfg to the file mexcfg.mat in the current folder.

To restore mexcfg in a new MATLAB session, at the MATLAB prompt, enter:

load mexcfg.mat
The load command loads the objects defined in mexcfg.mat to the MATLAB workspace.

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