Prepare MATLAB Code for Code Generation

Step 1 of 4 in Code Generation Guide: Generate Deployable C/C++ Code

To generate C/C++ code, the code generator converts dynamically typed MATLAB^® code to statically typed C/C++ code. In dynamically typed languages, the class, size, and complexity of a given variable can change at run time. In contrast, statically typed languages must determine variable types at compile-time.

Before generating code, identify which function to generate code for. This function is called the entry-point function or primary function. To prepare your code for code generation:

Initialize variables for code generation.
Screen your code for unsupported functions and language features.

Initialize Variables for Code Generation

Because the generated code is statically typed, initialize all variables in your code before use to allow the code generator to identify and allocate the variables properly in the generated code. To identify some of these issues, include this line in your code:

%#codegen

This table lists some common errors that might occur when you initialize variables in code intended for code generation.

Original Code	Issue	Modified Code
y = zeros(1,10); y(3) = 1 + 2i;	`y` is defined as double but assigned complex double value.	y = complex(zeros(1,10)); y(3) = 1 + 2i;
for i = 1:N y(i,i) = i; end	The array `y` is extended dynamically without being defined.	y = zeros(N,N); for i = 1:N y(i,i) = i; end

For information about data definition for code generation of specific data types, see Data Definition Considerations for Code Generation and Best Practices for Defining Variables for C/C++ Code Generation.

Screen Code for Unsupported Functions and Language Features

The code generator supports most language features and functions. See Functions and Objects Supported for C/C++ Code Generation. To check for unsupported functions and language features in your code:

Start the MATLAB Coder™ App from the Apps tab. Alternatively, enter this at the command line:
```
>> coder
```
Enter the entry-point function name in the app. Do not add subfunctions in this step. The code generator automatically includes the required subfunctions.
To see the unsupported functions or language features in your code, open the Code Generation Readiness Tool Report by clicking Next.

Alternatively, call the coder.screener function on your entry-point function. At the command line, enter:

coder.screener('filename');

This function parses your code and highlights unsupported MATLAB functions and some unsupported language features. See coder.screener.

If your code includes unsupported functions, consider these workarounds:

Check for replacement functions and System objects that support code generation.
Write custom code for the unsupported functions.
Use coder.ceval to call custom C functions that replace the unsupported functions.
Use coder.extrinsic to call the unsupported functions.

For more details of these workarounds, see Resolve Error: Function Is Not Supported for Code Generation.

Tips

Set Advanced Code Generation Options at Command Line

Use the codegen function with the configuration object coder.config. Depending on the type of build, you can also use coder.CodeConfig, coder.EmbeddedCodeConfig, and coder.MexCodeConfig.

Research Code Generation Considerations for Specific Functions

The reference pages of functions supported for code generation contain a section titled Extended Capabilities. This section lists special considerations when generating code for those functions. For example, see Extended Capabilities in interp2.

Call `coder.extrinsic`

Calls to coder.extrinsic declare a function as an extrinsic function. The code generator does not produce code for the body of the extrinsic function and instead uses the MATLAB engine to execute the call.