Can a Matlab interface to a C++ library built on Linux be used on Mac?

I want to build a Matlab interface to a C++ library on my x86-64 Linux machine and share it with my colleague who uses a Macbook with Apple M2 chip. Is that possible? In this webpage Requirements for Building Interface to C++ Libraries - MATLAB & Simulink (mathworks.com) it says "You must build the interface to the library by using the same compiler that was used to build the C++ library", but it doesn't say anything about using the interface on different platforms.

Answer 1

[Hassaan]

When you build an interface to a C++ library in MATLAB, typically using MATLAB's loadlibrary function or MEX-files, you're compiling code that is specific to your system's architecture and the compiler you're using. This compiled interface is not portable between different architectures or operating systems.

For your x86-64 Linux machine, you will use a compiler supported by MATLAB on Linux to build the interface. This interface will only work on other systems that have the same architecture and a compatible environment.

Your colleague with a MacBook with an Apple M2 chip has a different architecture (ARM-based), and as such, the interface you build on your Linux machine will not be directly usable on the Mac.

To share the interface with your colleague, you have two main options:

1. Provide the Source Code: You can share the source code of the MATLAB interface and the C++ library with your colleague. They will then need to build the interface on their own MacBook. Your colleague will need to ensure they have a compatible compiler that MATLAB supports on macOS and that the C++ library can be compiled for the ARM architecture.
2. Cross-Compilation: This is a more complex solution and involves setting up a cross-compilation environment on your Linux machine that can target the ARM architecture. Cross-compiling for a different operating system and architecture is an advanced task and often requires substantial setup, including the appropriate toolchains and dependencies. In practice, this approach is less commonly used for MATLAB interfaces because MATLAB itself has specific expectations about the binaries and their interaction with the MATLAB environment.

The second option is typically less practical, so the recommended approach is to share the source and have each user compile on their own system.

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[Aleksandar]

Thank you, that is exactly what I needed to know. I'll go with the first option.