Generate a C++ mwArray API Shared Library and Build a C++ Application

Supported platform: Windows^®, Linux^®, Mac

This example shows how to create a C++ shared library from MATLAB^® functions. You can integrate the generated library into a C++ application. This example also shows how to call the C++ shared library from a C++ application. The target system does not require a licensed copy of MATLAB.

Create Functions in MATLAB

In MATLAB, examine the MATLAB code that you want packaged.
For this example, Copy the matrix folder that ships with MATLAB to your work folder.
```
copyfile(fullfile(matlabroot,'extern','examples','compilersdk','c_cpp','matrix'),'matrix')
```
Navigate to the new matrix subfolder in your work folder.
Examine and test the functions addmatrix.m, multiplymatrix.m, and eigmatrix.m.
Create MATLAB sample code that calls the functions. Sample files are used to generate a sample application in the target language. For more information and limitations, see Sample Driver File Creation.
Save the following code in a sample file named libmatrixSample.m:
```
% Sample script to demonstrate execution of functions
% addmatrix, eigmatrix, and multiplymatrix
a1 = [1 4 7; 2 5 8; 3 6 9]; % Initialize a1 here
a2 = a1; % Initialize a2 here
a = addmatrix(a1, a2);
e = eigmatrix(a1);
m = multiplymatrix(a1, a2);
```
You may instead choose to not include a sample driver file at all during the packaging step. If you create your own C++ application code, you can move it to the appropriate directory and compile it using mbuild after the MATLAB functions are packaged.

Create a C++ Shared Library Using Library Compiler App

On the MATLAB Apps tab, on the far right of the Apps section, click the arrow. In Application Deployment, click Library Compiler.
Alternatively, you can open the Library Compiler app from the MATLAB command prompt by entering:
```
libraryCompiler
```
In the Type section of the toolstrip, click C++ Shared Library.
In the Library Compiler app project window, specify the files of the MATLAB application that you want to deploy.
1. In the Exported Functions section of the toolstrip, click .
2. In the Add Files window, browse to the example folder, and select the function you want to package. Click Open.
The function is added to the list of exported function files. Repeat this step to package multiple files in the same application.
Add addmatrix.m, multiplymatrix.m, and eigmatrix.m to the list of main files.
In the Packaging Options section of the toolstrip, decide whether to include the MATLAB Runtime installer in the generated application by selecting one of the options:
- Runtime downloaded from web — Generate an installer that downloads the MATLAB Runtime and installs it along with the deployed MATLAB application. You can specify the file name of the installer.
- Runtime included in package — Generate an application that includes the MATLAB Runtime installer. You can specify the file name of the installer.
  Note
  The first time you select this option, you are prompted to download the MATLAB Runtime installer.

Specify Shared Library Settings

The Library Name field is automatically populated with addmatrix as the name of the packaged shared library. Rename it as libmatrix. The same name is followed through in the implementation of the shared library.
Add the MATLAB sample file libmatrixSample.m you created earlier. Although C++ driver files are not necessary to create shared libraries, they are used to demonstrate how to Implement C++ mwArray API Shared Library with C++ Sample Application.
In the Samples section, select Add Existing Sample, and select libmatrixSample.m.
Select the type of API for the generated C++ shared libraries. In the API selection section at the bottom, select Create interface that uses the mwArray API. You may also leave it on the default option to create both interfaces. For more information, see API Selection for C++ Shared Library.

Customize the Application and Its Appearance

In the Library Compiler app, you can customize the installer, customize your application, and add more information about the application.

Library information — Information about the deployed application. You can also customize the appearance of the application by changing the application icon and splash screen. The generated installer uses this information to populate the installed application metadata. See Customize the Installer.
Additional installer options — Default installation path for the generated installer and custom logo selection. See Change the Installation Path.
Files required for your library to run — Additional files required by the generated application to run. These files are included in the generated application installer. See Manage Required Files in Compiler Project.
Files installed for your end user — Files that are installed with your application.
See Specify Files to Install with Application.

Package the Application

When you are finished selecting your packaging options, save your Library Compiler project and generate the packaged application.

Click Package.
In the Save Project dialog box, specify the location to save the project.
In the Package dialog box, verify that Open output folder when process completes is selected.
When the packaging process is complete, examine the generated output in the target folder.
- Three folders are generated: for_redistribution, for_redistribution_files_only, and for_testing.
  For more information about the files generated in these folders, see Files Generated After Packaging MATLAB Functions.
- The log file PackagingLog.html contains packaging results.

Create C++ Shared Library Using `compiler.build.cppSharedLibrary`

As an alternative to the Library Compiler app, you can create a C++ shared library using a programmatic approach. If you have already created a library using the Library Compiler, see Implement C++ mwArray API Shared Library with C++ Sample Application.

Save the list of function files in a cell array.

functionfiles = {'addmatrix.m', 'multiplymatrix.m', 'eigmatrix.m'}

Build the C++ shared library using the compiler.build.cppSharedLibrary function. Use name-value arguments to add the sample file and specify the library name and interface API.
```
buildResults = compiler.build.cppSharedLibrary(functionfiles,...
'LibraryName','libmatrix',...
'Interface','mwarray',...
'SampleGenerationFiles','libmatrixSample.m');
```
You can specify additional options in the compiler.build command by using name-value arguments. For details, see compiler.build.cppSharedLibrary.
The compiler.build.Results object buildResults contains information on the build type, generated files, included support packages, and build options.
The function generates the following files within a folder named libmatrixcppSharedLibrary in your current working directory:
- samples\libmatrixSample1_mwarray.cpp — C++ sample application that calls the addmatrix function.
- samples\libmatrixSample2_mwarray.cpp — C++ sample application that calls the eigmatrix function.
- samples\libmatrixSample3_mwarray.cpp — C++ sample application that calls the multiplymatrix function.
- GettingStarted.html — HTML file that contains information on integrating your shared library.
- includedSupportPackages.txt — Text file that lists all support files included in the library.
- libmatrix.cpp — C++ source code file.
- libmatrix.def — Module-definition file that provides the linker with module information.
- libmatrix.dll — Dynamic-link library file.
- libmatrix.exports — Exports file that contains all nonstatic function names.
- libmatrix.h — C++ header file.
- libmatrix.lib — Import library file.
- mccExcludedFiles.log — Log file that contains a list of any toolbox functions that were not included in the application. For information on non-supported functions, see MATLAB Compiler Limitations.
- readme.txt — Text file that contains packaging information.
- requiredMCRProducts.txt — Text file that contains product IDs of products required by MATLAB Runtime to run the application.
- unresolvedSymbols.txt — Text file that contains information on unresolved symbols.
Note
The generated library does not include MATLAB Runtime or an installer. To create an installer using the buildResults object, see compiler.package.installer.

Implement C++ mwArray API Shared Library with C++ Sample Application

Note

To call the library using a more advanced application that calls all three functions and handles errors, use the C++ application matrix_mwarray.cpp located in the folder

matlabroot\extern\examples\compilersdk\c_cpp\matrix

For more details, see Integrate C++ Shared Libraries with mwArray.

Before starting, make sure that you Download and Install MATLAB Runtime, and that you have a C++ compiler installed.

After packaging C++ shared libraries, you can call them from a C++ application. The C++ applications generated in the samples folder are based on the sample MATLAB file you created.

Copy and paste the generated C++ code file libmatrixSample1_mwarray.cpp from the samples folder into the folder that contains libmatrix.lib.

The program listing for libmatrixSample1_mwarray.cpp is shown below.

/*=================================================================
 *
 * LIBMATRIXSAMPLE1
 * CPP Sample driver code for libmatrix that calls a shared library
 * created using MATLAB Compiler SDK.
 * Refer to the MATLAB Compiler SDK documentation for more information.
 *
 *=================================================================*/
// Include the library specific header file as generated by the 
// MATLAB Compiler
#include <iostream>
#include "libmatrix.h"

void addmatrixSample() {
    try {
        mxDouble a1InData[] = {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0};
        mwArray a1In(3, 3, mxDOUBLE_CLASS);
        a1In.SetData(a1InData, 9);
        mxDouble a2InData[] = {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0};
        mwArray a2In(3, 3, mxDOUBLE_CLASS);
        a2In.SetData(a2InData, 9);
        mwArray aOut;
        addmatrix(1, aOut, a1In, a2In);
        std::cout << aOut << '\n';
    } catch (const mwException& e) {
        std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl;
    } catch (...) {
        std::cerr << "Unexpected error thrown" << std::endl;
    }
}

int run_main(int argc, const char** argv) {
    if (!libmatrixInitialize()) {
        std::cerr << "Could not initialize the library properly" << std::endl;
        return 2;
    } else {
        addmatrixSample();
        // Call the application and library termination routine
        libmatrixTerminate();
    }
    // Note that you should call mclTerminateApplication at the end of
    // your application to shut down all MATLAB Runtime instances.
    mclTerminateApplication();
    return 0;
}

// The main routine. On macOS, the main thread runs the system code, and
// user code must be processed by a secondary thread. On other platforms, 
// the main thread runs both the system code and the user code.
int main(int argc, const char** argv) {
    /* Call the mclInitializeApplication routine. Make sure that the application
     * was initialized properly by checking the return status. This initialization
     * has to be done before calling any MATLAB APIs or MATLAB Compiler SDK
     * generated shared library functions.
     */
    if (!mclInitializeApplication(nullptr, 0)) {
        std::cerr << "Could not initialize the application." << std::endl;
        return 1;
    }
    return mclRunMain(static_cast<mclMainFcnType>(run_main), argc, argv);
}

At the system command prompt, navigate to the folder where you copied libmatrixSample1_mwarray.cpp.
Compile and link the application using mbuild at the MATLAB prompt or your system command prompt.
```
mbuild libmatrixSample1_mwarray.cpp libmatrix.lib
```
Note
The .lib extension is used on Windows. On macOS, the file extension is .dylib, and on Linux it is .so.
From the system command prompt, run the application. If you used sample MATLAB code in the packaging steps, the sample C++ application returns the same output as the MATLAB code.
```
libmatrixSample1_mwarray.exe
```
```
2 8 14
4 10 16
6 12 18
```
(Optional) Compile and link the other sample C++ applications using mbuild. You can also use the generated C++ code as a guide to create your own application.
For further details, see Integrate C++ Shared Libraries with mwArray.