> There are entire ecosystems of academic libraries built around Matlab that can’t all just be picked up and moved to Python.
They can and they are. Python is increasingly displacing everything in the data industry and especially proprietary legacy platforms like Matlab. The number of things you can do in Matlab but not Python is converging on 0, while the inverse is not even worth trying to count.
Major universities are abandoning Matlab, Labview, SPSS, Minitab etc for Python, which is basically the end for them all. The next wave of CS/SE/DS/ML graduates had no exposure to Matlab. It'll linger in electrical engineering for a few more years but will suffer the same fate. In the end, proprietary platforms have no chance against FOSS.
> Example: my girlfriends department writes a world-leading MRI analysis library in Matlab
Siemens is leading the MRI industry and the only place where they're still using Matlab is the legacy platforms that aren't yet listed for updates or aren't worth updating.
The actual leading stuff is done with the same ML tools as the rest of the industry, mostly Tensorflow. Siemens and GE both also have programs to engage and eventually acquire 3rd party ML platforms not a single one of which has anything to do with Labview or Matlab outside of occasionally interfacing with legacy components.
> Major universities are abandoning Matlab, Labview, SPSS, Minitab etc for Python
Just to add another point of anecdata.
I helm a large data science effort in the defense industry. We are actively moving away from MATLAB and to Python. It's easier for us to find Python coders, easier to train people to use Python, more maintainable for the restrictions we have on our networks, and cheaper.
They can and they are. Python is increasingly displacing everything in the data industry and especially proprietary legacy platforms like Matlab. The number of things you can do in Matlab but not Python is converging on 0, while the inverse is not even worth trying to count.
Major universities are abandoning Matlab, Labview, SPSS, Minitab etc for Python, which is basically the end for them all. The next wave of CS/SE/DS/ML graduates had no exposure to Matlab. It'll linger in electrical engineering for a few more years but will suffer the same fate. In the end, proprietary platforms have no chance against FOSS.
> Example: my girlfriends department writes a world-leading MRI analysis library in Matlab
Siemens is leading the MRI industry and the only place where they're still using Matlab is the legacy platforms that aren't yet listed for updates or aren't worth updating.
The actual leading stuff is done with the same ML tools as the rest of the industry, mostly Tensorflow. Siemens and GE both also have programs to engage and eventually acquire 3rd party ML platforms not a single one of which has anything to do with Labview or Matlab outside of occasionally interfacing with legacy components.
https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/en-au/digital-health-so...