# About matlab and Gnuradio

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/about-matlab-and-gnuradio/239743>\
**Category:** GNU Radio\
**Created:** [March 12, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/about-matlab-and-gnuradio/239743 "2014-03-12T20:58:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Detlef\_R](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Detlef\_R](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Detlef_R)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/about-matlab-and-gnuradio/239743/1 "2014-03-12T20:58:31Z")

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Dear All,

I have a general questions about matlab and GNUradio. Both of them are  
support USRP N210, but i want to ask what is the strength of each other?  
I guess matlab delays more than gnuradio, and has less open code. am I  
right?

Anyone has more comments? thanks!

Best regards

Alex

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/about-matlab-and-gnuradio/239743/2 "2014-03-13T02:44:16Z")

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On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 3:57 AM, Zan [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> Dear All,
> 
> I have a general questions about matlab and GNUradio. Both of them are  
> support USRP N210, but i want to ask what is the strength of each other? I  
> guess matlab delays more than gnuradio, and has less open code. am I right?  
> Anyone has more comments? thanks!
> 
> Best regards  
> Alex

There are many different scenario to consider:

- real-time vs off-line
- graphical vs non-graphical flow graph
- native language vs compiled language

In summary:

- Matlab is widely used for off-line analysis (even with USRP), while  
gnuradio is often used for real-time analysis.

- In Matlab you need Simulink for graphical mode to work, while  
Companion (GRC) is the native graphical tool for gnuradio (bundled  
with gnuradio standard installation).

- To perform real-time analysis, matlab code must be translated into  
C-code and be compiled, using tools like Matlab Coder or Simulink  
Coder. This supports only a subset of core Matlab language features.  
In gnuradio there is no such restriction (all gnuradio features are  
fully supported).

-The gnuradio flow graph is built in python code, which do not need  
compilation before execution, for real-time analysis.

-Gnuradio has better driver support on USRP. Matlab doesn’t support  
legacy USRP.

-Graphical flow graph of GRC clearly indicates data type of each link  
in different color. In Simulink flow graphs all links are black color.