Managing Parallel Development in Two Languages?

Abhaga asks: "I work for a technology startup and our research work is mostly done in Matlab. The technology has matured, and now we are looking to build prototypes and products in C++. However, the dilemma is about the further research work/enhancements to the system. Should they be done in Matlab and continuously ported to C++, or is it better to move to C++ once and for all, at this point of time? Anyone having experience with similar things, what should we keep in mind while deciding on one or other."

Comments

Re:The easy way

[josephdrivein]

I think that they're looking for better performances, porting it to python won't give a great improvement from this point of view. And MATLAB has a _HUGE_ collection of librieries and toolboxes of mathematical functions, even if python comes "with batteries included", it does not feature builtin functions such as coniugate gradient method solver, for example. So it won't be nor faster nor (a lot) easier. Maybe, porting to octave would free him from vendor lock-in, if octave is mature enough.

Compile the Matlab

[jabuzz]

Have you looked into using the Matlab compiler to convert your Matlab code into C/C++. Just keep developing in Matlab and solve your problems.

Use ITPP C++ library which maps perfetly to matlab

[smogzer]

Drop matlab. Use http://itpp.sf.net/ and stay out of gsl, it's way too complicated to do simple things like matrix operations. For plotting there are great tools for python.

Re:Choose one language for development.

[maxume]

You have missed the point. They are using C++ to speed up stuff that is initially written in matlab. There are not two separate systems deployed, but a prototype and a product.

Re:Start High, Then Low

[swillden]

Are you calling GNU code elegant ? No-one I know that has to cope with GNU code would call it elegant.

What GNU code do you mean? There are many official GNU projects, some very elegant, some rather crufty, most a mixture of both. Your comment makes no sense.