Matlab is a popular numerical computing environment and programming language. The concept of Matlab refers to the whole package, including the IDE. The standard library does not contain as much generic programming functionality but does include matrix algebra and an extensive library for data processing and plotting.

To get similar functionality in Python, you'll need the NumPy, SciPy, and Matplotlib packages. Scipy is a package that has the goal of providing all the other functionality of Matlab, including those in the Matlab toolboxes (which would cost you extra in Matlab). Simulink, however, is one example that is not covered in …