Configure Code Generation Settings

R2026b

Configure output of code generation by specifying the build type (MEX, LIB, DLL, or EXE) and language (C or C++). Use additional settings to specify the location of the generated code, apply target specific optimizations, enable variable-sizing support, include comments in the generated code, and apply other customizations. You can modify these settings at the command line or by using the MATLAB^® Coder™ app.

Specify Target Language and Build Type

The code generator supports these target languages and build types:

C/C++ MEX function
Standalone C/C++ code, source code only
Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to a static library
Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to a dynamically linked library
Standalone C/C++ code, compiled to an executable

To specify the target language and build type, use one of these approaches:

In the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Language and select the output language. Click Output Type and select an output type.
At the command line, call the codegen function with the -config and -lang options.
Set the configuration parameters Language and Build type.

To generate source code only, without invoking the make command and without generating compiled object code, use one of these approaches:

In the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Generate Code.
At the command line, use codegen with the -c option.
Set the configuration parameter Generate code only.

When you iterate between modifying MATLAB code and generating C/C++ code and you want to inspect the generated code, this option can save you time. You can also use this option if you want to compile the generated code with your own compiler.

This table shows how to generate various types of C or C++ builds for the MATLAB function foo by using the codegen command.

Build Type to Generate	Command
C MEX function	codegen foo
Standalone C++ code, compiled to a static library; generate source code only	codegen -config:lib -lang:c++ -c foo
Standalone C code, compiled to a dynamically linked library	codegen -config:dll foo
Standalone C++ code, compiled to an executable and using the source file `main.cpp` that contains the `main` function See Specifying main Functions for C/C++ Executables.	codegen -config:exe main.cpp -lang:c++ foo

Specify Additional Configuration Settings

Besides target language and build type, you can specify additional code configuration settings in the MATLAB Coder app, at the command line, or using configuration object dialog boxes. Use this table to determine which specification method to use.

If you are using	Use	Details
The MATLAB Coder app	The code generation settings dialog box	Specify Code Configuration Parameters in the MATLAB Coder App
The `codegen` function at the command line and want to specify a few parameters	Configuration objects	Specify Code Configuration Parameters at the Command Line Using Configuration Objects
The `codegen` function in build scripts	Configuration objects
The `codegen` function at the command line and want to specify many parameters	The code generation settings dialog box	Specify Code Configuration Parameters Interactively

Specify Code Configuration Parameters in the MATLAB Coder App

In the MATLAB Coder tab of the toolstrip, click Settings to open the Code Generation Settings dialog box. The Code Generation Settings dialog box provides the set of configuration parameters applicable to the output type that you select. Code generation uses a different set of configuration parameters for MEX functions than it uses for the other build types. When you switch the build types, verify these settings.

Certain configuration parameters are used for both MEX and standalone code generation. If you change any of these parameters when the build type is MEX, and you want to use the same setting for standalone code generation, you must set the parameter again.

Changes to parameter settings are effective immediately.

Specify Code Configuration Parameters at the Command Line Using Configuration Objects

To customize the code generation process. use configuration objects with the codegen command. This table lists the available configuration objects and example commands that you can use to create the configuration objects.

Configuration Object	Description	Example Creation Commands
`coder.MexCodeConfig`	Specifies parameters for MEX code generation.	cfg = coder.config("mex");
`coder.CodeConfig`	If no Embedded Coder^® license is available or you disable the Embedded Coder license, specifies parameters for C/C++ library or executable generation.	% To generate a static library cfg = coder.config("lib"); % To generate a dynamic library cfg = coder.config("dll") % To generate an executable cfg = coder.config("exe");
`coder.EmbeddedCodeConfig`	If an Embedded Coder license is available, specifies parameters for C/C++ library or executable generation.	% To generate a static library cfg = coder.config("lib"); % To generate a dynamic library cfg = coder.config("dll") % To generate an executable cfg = coder.config("exe");

When you create a configuration object, the properties are initialized to their default values. To modify configuration objects to customize your environment for code generation:

In the MATLAB workspace, create a configuration object.
Modify the property of the configuration object as required, using one of these methods:
- Dot notation at the command line. See Modify Configuration Objects at the Command Line Using Dot Notation.
- Dialog boxes. See Specify Code Configuration Parameters Interactively.
Call the codegen command with the -config option. Specify the configuration object as the config argument.
The -config option instructs codegen to generate code for the entry points using the settings in the configuration object. For example, at the command line, create a static library configuration object cfg. Then, generate code for the MATLAB function foo using the codegen command with this configuration object.
```
cfg = coder.config("lib");
codegen -config cfg foo
```

Modify Configuration Objects at the Command Line Using Dot Notation. You can use the dot notation to modify the value of one configuration object property at a time. The dot notation syntax uses the object variable and the property name connected with a dot (.):

object.PropertyName = value

For example:

Specify a main function for C code generation.

cfg = coder.config("exe");
cfg.TargetLang = "C";
cfg.CustomInclude = "c:\myfiles";
cfg.CustomSource = "main.c";
codegen -config cfg foo

See Specifying main Functions for C/C++ Executables.

Automatically generate and launch code generation reports after generating a C++ static library.
```
cfg = coder.config("lib");
cfg.TargetLang = "C++";
cfg.GenerateReport= true;
cfg.LaunchReport = true;
codegen -config cfg foo
```

Save Configuration Objects

Configuration objects do not automatically persist between MATLAB sessions. To preserve your settings, write a script to recreate the configuration object or save the configuration object to a MAT file.

For example, assume that you create and customize a MEX configuration object mexcfg in the MATLAB workspace. To save the configuration object, at the MATLAB command line, enter:

save mexcfg.mat mexcfg

The save command saves mexcfg to the file mexcfg.mat in the current folder.

To restore mexcfg in a new MATLAB session, at the MATLAB command line, enter:

load mexcfg.mat

The load command loads the objects defined in mexcfg.mat to the MATLAB workspace.

Share Configuration Settings

To share configuration settings among multiple projects or between the MATLAB Coder app and the command line, you can export the settings to and import the settings from a code generation configuration object. You can use a code configuration object when you generate code at the command line by passing the code configuration object to the codegen command with the -config option.

Export App Settings to Configuration Object

To export app project settings to a code configuration object, use one of these approaches:

On the MATLAB Coder app toolstrip, click the Export button and select Export Code Generation Settings. Enter a name for the created configuration object.
At the command line, use the -toconfig option with the coder command. If the project file is not in the working directory, you must specify the file path.

The type of configuration object that the app creates depends on the build type of your MATLAB Coder project and on the configuration parameter Use Embedded Coder features.

Build Type Setting	Parameter Setting	Created Configuration Object
MEX	Any	`coder.MexCodeConfig`
Standalone (static library, dynamic library, or executable)	Use Embedded Coder features check box selected	`coder.EmbeddedCodeConfig`
Standalone (static library, dynamic library, or executable)	Use Embedded Coder features check box cleared	`coder.CodeConfig`

Import Configuration Object Settings into App

To import the settings from a code generation configuration object into the MATLAB Coder app, the configuration object must be stored in the base workspace. On the MATLAB Coder toolstrip, click Settings > Import from workspace variable. In the Import Code Generation Settings dialog box, select the configuration object.