Changelog

All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.

The format is based on Keep a Changelog, and this project adheres to Semantic Versioning.

1.13.0 - (2025-03-29)

This release introduces performance improvements and new graphical capabilities while deprecating support for 32-bit Windows versions.

Changed

• Windows x64 Compatibility: Now requires the AVX2 instruction set.

• Windows 32-bit Support: Official distribution of 32-bit Windows binary versions has been discontinued.

• macOS Optimization: Builds for macOS with M-series chips now leverage native optimizations for improved performance.

• Plot Performance: Optimized plot and plot3 functions for increased speed. Example:

  tic(); plot(rand(300,300), rand(300,300)); toc();

• Dependencies Updated:

  • Upgraded fmtlib to version 11.1.3.

  • Intel Math Kernel Library (MKL) updated to 2025.0.1 on Windows.

• Internal Enhancements:

  • OpenMP multithreading macros have been reworked for better efficiency.

• SLICOT module incorporates SLICOT library 5.9, which is distributed under the BSD-3-Clause license.

  • SLICOT module available on all platforms by default.

• python 3.13.2 embedded on Windows

Added

• Double Buffering for Plots:

  • Implemented double buffering to enhance the smoothness and responsiveness of graphical plots.

  • Significantly reduces flickering during graphical updates.

• New Graphics Functions:

  • getframe: Captures an axes or figure as a movie frame.

  • movie: Plays recorded movie frames.

  • im2frame: Converts an image to a movie frame.

  • frame2im: Returns image data associated with a movie frame.

  • DevicePixelRatio: New figure property to handle display scaling.

• Graphics IO module:

  • imwrite: create gif animations.

  • imwrite, imread: pcx, tiff file formats managed.

  • imformats: Manage image file format registry.

• New Example:

  • Added an example for connecting ollama with Nelson:

    edit([modulepath('webtools'), '/examples/ollama/readme.md'])

• CMake Enhancement:

  • Introduced ENABLE_AVX2 CMake option for systems that support AVX2.

  • CMake dependencies reworked.

Fixed

• MacOs: Default terminal did not use monospaced font.

• Some warnings detected with PVS-studio

1.12.0 (2025-02-16)

Added

• Julia interface (part 1):

  • jlenv: Change default environment of Julia interpreter.

  • jlrun: Run Julia statements from Nelson.

  • jlrunfile: Run Julia file from Nelson.

  • Major types conversions are available.

  • CMake: Optional Julia engine detection.

• bar, scatter manage color name and short colorname.

• Github CI Ubuntu 24.04 arm64 (Cobalt 100 processor).

• Github CI Snapcraft build amd64 and arm64.

• Snapcraft arm64.

Changed

• Completion .m files allows execution without extension.

• #1342 Github CI - Ubuntu-20.04 hosted runner image removed.

Fixed

• #1346 [display] integer in cell are displayed as double and not as integer.

1.11.0 (2025-01-11)

Added

• #1321 mustBeSparse validator function.

• #1322 cmdsep: Command separator for current operating system.

• urlencode: Replace special characters in URLs with escape characters.

• docroot: Utility to retrieve or define the root directory of Nelson Help.

• ismodule: second input argument isprotected added.

• editor('editor_command', cmd) allows to change text editor in Nelson (for example: VS Code).

• NELSON_RUNTIME_PATH environment variable added by installer on Windows.

• --vscode command line argument added.

• NixOS 24.11 packaging (see BUILDING_Linux.md).

Changed

• Help Center: Access documentation in your system's web browser. Previously, the documentation was opened in the embedded Help browser.

• CA certificate store update.

• fmt library dependency updated.

• BS::threadpool library dependency updated.

• Advanced terminal updated (common for all platforms without GUI, auto completion, search history).

• Python 3.13.1 supported.

Fixed

• #1324 Cell display could not be interrupted.

1.10.0 (2024-12-14)

Added

• detectImportOptions: Generate import options from the file's content.

• readtable: Read table from file.

• writetable: Write table to file.

• readcell: Read cell array from file.

• writecell: write cell array to file.

• readmatrix: read matrix from file.

• writematrix: write matrix to file.

• csvread: Read comma-separated value (CSV) file.

• csvwrite: Write comma-separated value (CSV) file.

• dlmread: Read ASCII-delimited file of numeric data into matrix.

• realmin: Smallest normalized floating-point number.

• #1288 mustBeMatrix, mustBeRow, mustBeColumn validator functions.

• join: Combine strings.

• #1292 Large Table Display.

• #1290 VariableTypes property for table: Specify the data types of table in Nelson.

• hour, minute, second component of input date and time.

Changed

• narginchk, nargoutchk support for check only minimun arguments narginchk(3, Inf).

• Fedora 41 CI

• title: Visible property is inherited from the parent if not explicitly defined.

• i18n: migration PO files to JSON.

• dlmwrite: rework the function to be more fast and robust.

• strjust: rework the function to be more fast and robust.

• datenum: support '' as format for compatibility.

Fixed

• #1303 datevec result must be normalized.

• #1297 some features have no help files.

• #1276 micromamba macos build.

1.9.0 (2024-10-26)

Added

• Table direct computation:

  • unary functions: abs, acos, acosh, acot, acotd, acoth,acsc, acscd, acsch, asec, asecd, asech,asin, asind, asinh, atan, atand, atanh,ceil, cosd, cosh, cospi, cot, cotd,coth, csc, cscd, csch, exp, fix,floor, log, log10, log1p, log2, nextpow2,round, sec, secd, sech, sin, sind,sinh, sinpi, sqrt, tan, tand, tanh,var, acosd, not.

  • binary functions: plus, minus, times, eq, ge, gt, le,ne, lt, rdivide, rem, power, pow2, or, mod, ldivide.

• end magic keyword can be overloaded for classes (applied to table class).

• #1250 head, tail functions for table and array.

• #1248 removevars, renamevars functions for table.

Changed

• #1259 Add macOS Sequoia and remove macOS Monterey CI support.

• Qt 6.8 LTS support (used on Windows 64 bits binary).

• Python 3.13.0 on Windows.

• Boost 1.86 on Windows.

1.8.0 (2024-10-04)

Added

• table Data Type:

  • Introduced the table data type, offering enhanced functionality for structured data manipulation.

  • Overloaded methods specific to the table data type:

    • disp, display for table display.

    • horzcat, vertcat for horizontal and vertical concatenation.

    • isempty to check if the table is empty.

    • isequal, isequalto for table comparison.

    • properties for accessing table metadata.

    • subsasgn for subscripted assignment.

    • subsref for subscripted referencing.

  • Conversion functions added:

    • array2table: Convert an array to a table.

    • cell2table: Convert a cell array to a table.

    • struct2table: Convert a structure to a table.

    • table2array: Convert a table to an array.

    • table2cell: Convert a table to a cell array.

    • table2struct: Convert a table to a structure.

  • Utility functions introduced:

    • width: Retrieve the number of columns in the table

    • height: Retrieve the number of rows in the table

    • istable: Check if a variable is of the table data type

• Resize - Resize figure property.

• #36 datenum format compatibility extended.

• #37 datestr Convert date and time to string format.

Changed

• CodeQL Github action updated.

Fixed

• fix 'units' refresh for 'axes' object.

1.7.0 (2024-08-28)

Added

• uicontrol Create user interface control (button, slider, edit, list box, etc.).

• waitfor Block execution and wait for condition.

• waitforbuttonpress — Wait for click or key press.

• im2double — Convert image to double.

• CloseRequestFcn — Close request callback for figure.

• CreateFcn — Create callback for all graphic objects.

• DeleteFcn — Delete callback for all graphic objects.

• BusyAction — Busy action for all graphic objects.

• Interruptible — Interruptible property for all graphic objects.

• BeingDeleted — Being deleted property for all graphic objects.

• KeyPressFcn, KeyReleaseFcn, ButtonDownFcn properties for figure.

Changed

• Refactor the internal implementation of the 'system' built-in function.

• Python 3.12.5 on Windows.

1.6.0 (2024-06-29)

Added

• unique: Unique values.

• ndgrid: Rectangular grid in N-D space.

• nthroot: Real nth root of real numbers.

• allfinite: Check if all array elements are finite.

• j as imaginary unit number is also supported. example 3+2j equivalent to 3+2i.

• FollowLocation option for weboptions

• oneAPI Threading Building Blocks optional dependency.

• Ubuntu 24.04 debian package.

• Ubuntu 24.04 CI

Changed

• sort: speed optimization.

• Windows dependencies updated and rebuild with minimal dependencies:

  • Qt 6.7.1,

  • Visual C++ 2022 Redistributable v14.40.33810.00,

  • boost 1.85,

  • Python 3.12.4,

  • Intel Math Kernel Library 2024.1.1,

  • Intel runtime,

  • SLICOT,

  • gettext 0.22.5,

  • cmake 3.30.0 rc3,

  • libsndfile 1.2.2,

  • portaudio 19.7.5,

  • taglib 2.0,

  • libzip1 1.3.1,

  • libcurl 8.8.0,

  • icu4c 74.2,

  • libffi 3.4.6,

  • libxml2 2.11.7

• Unicode® Standard, Version 15.1 support

• simdutf 5.2.8

• fast_float 6.1.1

• dtl 1.2.0

Fixed

• #1210 bode did not unwrap phase.

• #1206 balance yields wrong Transformation Matrix.

• #1205 diag may return wrong sub-diagonals.

• #1202 buildhelpmd does not generate SUMMARY as expected.

• #1201 Matrix Exponential expm might give wrong results.

• #1200 Matrix Parsing/Evaluation trouble.

1.5.0 (2024-05-31)

Added

• dictionary data type.

  • dictionary: Object that maps unique keys to values.

  • configureDictionary: Create dictionary with specified key and value types.

  • insert: Add entries to a dictionary.

  • lookup: Find value in dictionary by key.

  • remove: Remove dictionary entries.

  • entries: Key-value pairs of dictionary.

  • keys: Keys of dictionary.

  • values: Values of dictionary.

  • types: Types of dictionary keys and values.

  • numEntries: Number of key-value pairs in dictionary.

  • isConfigured: Determine if dictionary has types assigned to keys and values.

  • isKey: Determine if dictionary contains key.

  • keyHash: Generate hash code for dictionary key.

  • keyMatch: Determine if two dictionary keys are the same.

• bernsteinMatrix: Bernstein matrix.

• orderedfields: Order fields of structure array.

• Python interface (part 3):

  • #1160 Python operators in Nelson.

  • keyHash, keyMatch for python objects.

  • isa builtin support python types.

  • python dictionary to Nelson dictionary dictionary(pyDict)

  • conversion dictionary to python dictionary.

Changed

• help files generated sorted by name on all platforms.

• on windows, Qt libraries used are in debug mode.

Fixed

• #1195 strcmp({'a'},["a"]) did not return expected value.

1.4.0 (2024-04-27)

Added

• Python interface (part 2):

  • #1168 Run Python script file from Nelson.

  • #1141 Help about Managing Data between Python and Nelson.

  • #1149 python bytes, and bytearray types were not managed.

  • #1163 pyenv searchs python by version on Windows.

  • #1164 Embed python distribution on Windows.

  • #1167 Help about how to install Python package from Nelson.

  • numpy types support if numpy available.

  • pyenv: can use environment variables to set values.

• getenv: Retrieve the values of several environment variables.

• pyrun: Python code object allowed as first input argument.

• nelson --without_python starts nelson without python engine.

• skip_testsuite: allows to skip test suite dynamically on condition.

Changed

• Allow to call method of a variable of CLASS/HANDLE type like a function (currently, only plugged for python subtype).

• #1142 Github Actions updated.

• #1157 Qt 6.7 support (used on Windows 64 bits binary).

• copyfile, isfile, isdir, mkdir allow string array type as input.

• warning about 'Matrix is singular to working precision' for inv matrix.

• tests webtools skipped if connection fails or not available.

Fixed

• #1144 test_run markdown help file had a typo.

• #1143 Linux Snapcraft version did not allow to use python.

• #1148 pyrun('print(A)','A','A',string(NaN)) did not return expected value.

• single(int64([1 2; 3 4])) returned a wrong value.

• py.tuple, py.list compatibility increased.

• pyenv did not manage python's path with space on Windows.

• Matio 1.5.27 compatibility on ArchLinux.

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS support.

• #1178 Fedora 40 support (CI).

• #1134 [CI] MacOS X Ventura restored.

1.3.0 (2024-03-30)

Added

• Python interface (part 1):

  • CMake: Optional Python3 detection.

  • pyenv Change default environment of Python interpreter.

  • pyrun Run Python statements from Nelson.

  • Major types conversions are compatible (numpy in the next upcoming version).

• ArchLinux packaging (https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/nelson-git).

• contour Contour plot of matrix.

• contour3 3-D contour plot.

• shiftdim Shift array dimensions.

• xcorr2 2-D cross-correlation.

• deconv Deconvolution and polynomial division.

• vecnorm Vector-wise norm.

• normpdf Normal probability density function.

• #310 gammaln Logarithm of gamma function.

• #1112 gradient Numerical gradient.

• #1126 isspace Determine which characters are space characters.

Changed

• #1110 Eigen master branch (352ede96e4c331daae4e1be9a5f3f50fff951b8d) ready to use.

• #1134 [CI] MacOS X Ventura disabled (Install dependencies fails)

• struct supports scalar string array as field name.

Fixed

• #1110 add help about build and use C/C++ on fly.

• #1124 unexpected result from long statements on Multiple Lines.

• #1127 Nelson could crash if an mxn characters is displayed in the variable browser.

• #1125 Unsupported colon operator with char operands.

• Missing 'zoom in', 'zoom out' icons for help viewer in linux package.

• gcd without argument returned wrong error message.

• #1133 [CI] [ARCH LINUX] Warning about MPI.

1.2.0 (2024-02-25)

Added

• Recursive completion on Graphic handle, struct, handle, class (properties, methods).

• Adding links between documents about mex and supported compilers.

• GitHub CI for macOS Sonoma (Apple Silicon) support.

• Export to ... context menu for console and text editor as pdf.

• CTRL + Mouse wheel or CTRL + +/- to zoom in/out on console, editor, help.

• Toolbar for figure with print, zoom in, zoom out, rotation, pan, restore axes.

• zoom , pan , rotate3d functions.

• MenuBar, ToolBar figure properties.

• Window menu on graphic window, list all others available windows.

• feature builtin (undocument features, debug, tests, ...) content can change with next releases.

• GridAlpha, GridColor, View properties for Axes.

• CTRL+C in help viewer, copy selected text.

• checkupdate function and check update menu.

• isScalarStringArray iinternal API C++ method.

Changed

• Clicking on an axis automatically sets it as the current axes object.

• Clicking on an figure automatically sets it as the current figure object.

• saveas exports the figure as a PDF page with centered alignment.

• Default color of grid for axes.

• Default figure size updated.

• Default MarkerFaceColor value for compatibility.

• view function returns azimuth and elevation values.

• Camera view reworked.

• Minimal screen resolution supported 800x600.

Fixed

• Change directory with file browser line editor did not work as expected.

• Template to create a function with file browser was wrong.

• Do not allow to select multiple variable in workspace browser.

• File browser checks if files with the extension ".m" have a valid name before enable 'run' context menu.

• Paste in editor with multiple tab.

• Starting the Nelson desktop was taking longer than necessary.

1.1.0 (2024-01-29)

Added

• Nelson Desktop environment: file browser, command history, workspace browser, desktop layout.

• #1074 Roadmap v2.0.0

• #1044: LU matrix factorization.

• #1080 LineStyle, LineWidth properties were not implemented for surface objects.

• sky, abyss colormaps.

1.0.0 (2024-01-04)

Nelson 1.0.0 has been released.

Nelson is an interactive, fully functional environment for engineering and scientific applications. It implements a matrix-driven language (which is largely compatible with MATLAB and GNU Octave), with advanced features such as 2-D 3-D plotting, image manipulation and viewing, a codeless interface to external C/C++/FORTRAN libraries, native support for various C types, and a host of other features.

Features

• Types managed by Nelson:

  • double and double complex: scalar, vector, matrix 2D, N dimensions array, sparse matrix.

  • single and single complex: scalar, vector, matrix 2D, N dimensions array, sparse matrix.

  • logical: scalar, vector, matrix 2D, N dimensions array, sparse matrix.

  • character array (UNICODE supported).

  • string array (UNICODE supported).

  • integers 8, 16, 32, 64 signed and unsigned: scalar, vector, matrix 2D, N dimensions array.

  • handle objects.

  • anonymous functions,

  • all types can be overloaded.

• OpenMP and SIMD extensions used.

• 2D and 3D plotting with high-level plot commands.

• Parallel Computing Module.

• Fast Fourrier Transformation functions based on FFTW and MKL wrapper.

• SLICOT (Subroutine Library in Systems and Control Theory) interfaces (optional).

• Control System module.

• Message Passing Interface (MPI): functions for parallel computing.

• JSON decode/encode data support.

• HDF5 high-level functions I/O,

• HDF5 used as default data file format (.nh5) load/save workspace,

• MAT-file compatible load/save workspace,

• Foreign Function Interface C/Fortran.

• Interfacing C/C++ or Fortran with Nelson (build and load external code on the fly).

• MEX C API compatibility.

• Nelson Engine API for C (compatible with MEX Engine). Call Nelson from your C code as engine.

• RESTful API web service.

• Inter-process communication between Nelson's process.

• The QML engine enables nelson programs to display and manipulate graphical content using Qt's QML framework.

• Component Object Model (COM) client interface: binary-interface standard for software components on Windows.

• Write/Read xlsx files on Windows using COM.

• Embedded Nelson code editor.

• Help engine:

  Generate help files using Nelson dedicated functions. View your generated help files as html, markdown, pdf, gitbook or directly in Nelson help viewer.

• Tests engine:

  Validate your algorithm using Nelson dedicated functions. Export the test results under the xUnit reports format.

• Profiling and Code coverage tools for Nelson's language:

  Nelson has a built-in profiler that is very useful to profile your code and find out what script or function is taking the most time.

• Nelson cloud: Instant access to Nelson anywhere from an web browser.

• Module skeleton to extend Nelson available here:

  • template macros and builtin,

  • basic template macros only.

• Nelson Modules Manager (nmm) : package manager for Nelson

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