Standalone Application Won't Open on Same Computer

I built a standalone application using MATLAB 2019b/MATLAB Compiler Runtime version 9.7, and I am trying to deploy the application on the same computer. Note that the questions asked here and here address the problem that the standalone works on the original computer but not on the target computer, which is a different problem. In case it's relevant, I selected the option to download MATLAB Runtime from the web. Using the installer in the 'for_redistribution' folder, I was able to successfully install MATLAB Runtime and my application. When I tried launching the application, it appeared briefly on the toolbar as it it were going to open, but then it closed (with no error message). I tried re-running the installer, but received exactly the same issue as before.

I am currently running macOS Catalina 10.15.4. Previously, I built an application from the same code using MATLAB 2018b/MCR 9.5, and I was able successfully launch the standalone when I was running macOS High Sierra. In Catalina, I was able to run the code that I used to generate the application, though I did receive a warning message about JavaFrame being removed in a future release (Warning: The JavaFrame figure property will be removed in a future release. For more information, see Recommendations for Java and ActiveX Users on mathworks.com.)

My question: Is there some specific aspect of Catalina/MATLAB 2019b/MCR 9.7 that is causing this behavior? What steps should I take to solve this problem?

Answer 1

[Kevin Chu]

I think I solved this problem. When I ran the run_app.sh script, I received the error: "Modifying the search path is not supported by MATLAB Compiler." This is due to calling 'addpath' in the startup.m file. Following this suggestion, I modified startup.m by using the 'isdeployed' function. Now the application runs without any issues.

[Stefanie Schwarz]

See also: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1998008-why-do-i-get-a-warning-or-error-regarding-executing-startup-failed-in-matlabrc-and-matlab-mpath-p