MATLAB and GNU Octave numerical computing for matrix operations, data analysis, visualization, and scientific computing. Use when writing MATLAB/Octave scripts for linear algebra, signal processing, image processing, differential equations, optimization, statistics, or creating scientific visualizations. Also use when the user needs help with MATLAB syntax, functions, or wants to convert between MATLAB and Python code. Scripts can be executed with MATLAB or the open-source GNU Octave interpreter.
npx skills add https://github.com/zLanqing/codex-claude-academic-skills --skill matlab
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment optimized for matrix operations and scientific computing. GNU Octave is a free, open-source alternative with high MATLAB compatibility.
Running MATLAB scripts:
# MATLAB (commercial)
matlab -nodisplay -nosplash -r "run('script.m'); exit;"
# GNU Octave (free, open-source)
octave script.m
Install GNU Octave:
# macOS
brew install octave
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install octave
# Windows - download from https://octave.org/download
MATLAB operates fundamentally on matrices and arrays:
% Create matrices
A = [1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9]; % 3x3 matrix
v = 1:10; % Row vector 1 to 10
v = linspace(0, 1, 100); % 100 points from 0 to 1
% Special matrices
I = eye(3); % Identity matrix
Z = zeros(3, 4); % 3x4 zero matrix
O = ones(2, 3); % 2x3 ones matrix
R = rand(3, 3); % Random uniform
N = randn(3, 3); % Random normal
% Matrix operations
B = A'; % Transpose
C = A * B; % Matrix multiplication
D = A .* B; % Element-wise multiplication
E = A \ b; % Solve linear system Ax = b
F = inv(A); % Matrix inverse
For complete matrix operations, see references/matrices-arrays.md.
% Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
[V, D] = eig(A); % V: eigenvectors, D: diagonal eigenvalues
% Singular value decomposition
[U, S, V] = svd(A);
% Matrix decompositions
[L, U] = lu(A); % LU decomposition
[Q, R] = qr(A); % QR decomposition
R = chol(A); % Cholesky (symmetric positive definite)
% Solve linear systems
x = A \ b; % Preferred method
x = linsolve(A, b); % With options
x = inv(A) * b; % Less efficient
For comprehensive linear algebra, see references/mathematics.md.
% 2D Plots
x = 0:0.1:2*pi;
y = sin(x);
plot(x, y, 'b-', 'LineWidth', 2);
xlabel('x'); ylabel('sin(x)');
title('Sine Wave');
grid on;
% Multiple plots
hold on;
plot(x, cos(x), 'r--');
legend('sin', 'cos');
hold off;
% 3D Surface
[X, Y] = meshgrid(-2:0.1:2, -2:0.1:2);
Z = X.^2 + Y.^2;
surf(X, Y, Z);
colorbar;
% Save figures
saveas(gcf, 'plot.png');
print('-dpdf', 'plot.pdf');
For complete visualization guide, see references/graphics-visualization.md.
% Read tabular data
T = readtable('data.csv');
M = readmatrix('data.csv');
% Write data
writetable(T, 'output.csv');
writematrix(M, 'output.csv');
% MAT files (MATLAB native)
save('data.mat', 'A', 'B', 'C'); % Save variables
load('data.mat'); % Load all
S = load('data.mat', 'A'); % Load specific
% Images
img = imread('image.png');
imwrite(img, 'output.jpg');
For complete I/O guide, see references/data-import-export.md.
% Conditionals
if x > 0
disp('positive');
elseif x < 0
disp('negative');
else
disp('zero');
end
% Loops
for i = 1:10
disp(i);
end
while x > 0
x = x - 1;
end
% Functions (in separate .m file or same file)
function y = myfunction(x, n)
y = x.^n;
end
% Anonymous functions
f = @(x) x.^2 + 2*x + 1;
result = f(5); % 36
For complete programming guide, see references/programming.md.
% Descriptive statistics
m = mean(data);
s = std(data);
v = var(data);
med = median(data);
[minVal, minIdx] = min(data);
[maxVal, maxIdx] = max(data);
% Correlation
R = corrcoef(X, Y);
C = cov(X, Y);
% Linear regression
p = polyfit(x, y, 1); % Linear fit
y_fit = polyval(p, x);
% Moving statistics
y_smooth = movmean(y, 5); % 5-point moving average
For statistics reference, see references/mathematics.md.
% ODE solving
% dy/dt = -2y, y(0) = 1
f = @(t, y) -2*y;
[t, y] = ode45(f, [0 5], 1);
plot(t, y);
% Higher-order: y'' + 2y' + y = 0
% Convert to system: y1' = y2, y2' = -2*y2 - y1
f = @(t, y) [y(2); -2*y(2) - y(1)];
[t, y] = ode45(f, [0 10], [1; 0]);
For ODE solvers guide, see references/mathematics.md.
% FFT
Y = fft(signal);
f = (0:length(Y)-1) * fs / length(Y);
plot(f, abs(Y));
% Filtering
b = fir1(50, 0.3); % FIR filter design
y_filtered = filter(b, 1, signal);
% Convolution
y = conv(x, h, 'same');
For signal processing, see references/mathematics.md.
% Load data
data = readtable('experiment.csv');
% Clean data
data = rmmissing(data); % Remove missing values
% Analyze
grouped = groupsummary(data, 'Category', 'mean', 'Value');
% Visualize
figure;
bar(grouped.Category, grouped.mean_Value);
xlabel('Category'); ylabel('Mean Value');
title('Results by Category');
% Save
writetable(grouped, 'results.csv');
saveas(gcf, 'results.png');
% Parameters
L = 1; N = 100; T = 10; dt = 0.01;
x = linspace(0, L, N);
dx = x(2) - x(1);
% Initial condition
u = sin(pi * x);
% Time stepping (heat equation)
for t = 0:dt:T
u_new = u;
for i = 2:N-1
u_new(i) = u(i) + dt/(dx^2) * (u(i+1) - 2*u(i) + u(i-1));
end
u = u_new;
end
plot(x, u);
% Process multiple files
files = dir('data/*.csv');
results = cell(length(files), 1);
for i = 1:length(files)
data = readtable(fullfile(files(i).folder, files(i).name));
results{i} = analyze(data); % Custom analysis function
end
% Combine results
all_results = vertcat(results{:});
GNU Octave is highly compatible with MATLAB. Most scripts work without modification. Key differences:
# or % for comments (MATLAB only %)++, --, += operatorspkg load for Octave packagesFor complete compatibility guide, see references/octave-compatibility.md.
% Slow
for i = 1:1000
y(i) = sin(x(i));
end
% Fast
y = sin(x);
% Slow
for i = 1:1000
y(i) = i^2;
end
% Fast
y = zeros(1, 1000);
for i = 1:1000
y(i) = i^2;
end
% Numeric data
M = readmatrix('numbers.csv');
% Mixed data with headers
T = readtable('mixed.csv');
function y = myfunction(x)
%MYFUNCTION Brief description
% Y = MYFUNCTION(X) detailed description
%
% Example:
% y = myfunction(5);
y = x.^2;
end
Comprehensive spreadsheet creation, editing, and analysis with support for formulas, formatting, data analysis, and visualization. When Claude needs to work with spreadsheets (.xlsx, .xlsm, .csv, .tsv, etc) for: (1) Creating new spreadsheets with formulas and formatting, (2) Reading or analyzing data, (3) Modify existing spreadsheets while preserving formulas, (4) Data analysis and visualization in spreadsheets, or (5) Recalculating formulas
Use this skill any time a spreadsheet file is the primary input or output. This means any task where the user wants to: open, read, edit, or fix an existing .xlsx, .xlsm, .csv, or .tsv file (e.g., adding columns, computing formulas, formatting, charting, cleaning messy data); create a new spreadsheet from scratch or from other data sources; or convert between tabular file formats. Trigger especially when the user references a spreadsheet file by name or path — even casually (like \"the xlsx in my downloads\") — and wants something done to it or produced from it. Also trigger for cleaning or restructuring messy tabular data files (malformed rows, misplaced headers, junk data) into proper spreadsheets. The deliverable must be a spreadsheet file. Do NOT trigger when the primary deliverable is a Word document, HTML report, standalone Python script, database pipeline, or Google Sheets API integration, even if tabular data is involved.
Picks random winners from lists, spreadsheets, or Google Sheets for giveaways, raffles, and contests. Ensures fair, unbiased selection with transparency.
Query openFDA API for drugs, devices, adverse events, recalls, regulatory submissions (510k, PMA), substance identification (UNII), for FDA regulatory data analysis and safety research.
MATLAB and GNU Octave numerical computing for matrix operations, data analysis, visualization, and scientific computing. Use when writing MATLAB/Octave scripts for linear algebra, signal processing, image processing, differential equations, optimization, statistics, or creating scientific visualizations. Also use when the user needs help with MATLAB syntax, functions, or wants to convert between MATLAB and Python code. Scripts can be executed with MATLAB or the open-source GNU Octave interpreter.
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Access AlphaFold 200M+ AI-predicted protein structures. Retrieve structures by UniProt ID, download PDB/mmCIF files, analyze confidence metrics (pLDDT, PAE), for drug discovery and structural biology.
Take zlanqing/matlab from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal
use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.
The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the
same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.
The instructions reference brew.
Without those the skill loads but fails at the first command.