Difference between deployment tool and MatLab compiler

Does anyone know the difference between those two? I want to package a standalone application and I found two ways online. Which one is better?

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

The compiler compiles your m-file(s) into a single executable. The deploytool will also do that but build an installer with it where you can package additional, supporting files and create an installer. Kind of like InstallShield which I'm sure you've seen deployment packages from.

You don't have to use deploytool. I don't. I compile my apps using the compiler's mcc function, then I use a third party package to do the installation. The Mathworks is making improvements to deploytool, but it's just not there yet for me. For example, you can't place your files in any named directory that you want. For example, if you wanted to put a file in c:\users\public\documents\MATLAB\myApp, you can't do it. I may switch to using deploytool if they add features like that which will enable it to compete with third party installer builder applications.

[Kah Joon Yong]

Thank you very much Image Analyst! What do you mean by a third party package to do the installation, can't the package compiled by the mcc compiler be installed right away after being compiled?