MATLAB on EndeavourOS

Early this spring semester, I had to install MATLAB for one of my classes. I wrote these steps up as I was trying to find a way to install the program back in Janurary. I recall heavily referencing this Reddit comment, which has since then been removed. Bummer. (˃̣̣̥ ︿ ˂̣̣̥)

If anyone out there is trying to install R2025b MATLAB on EndeavourOS/Arch, hopefully you find this helpful!

1. Install Docker, Distrobox, and mpm

   yay -S docker distrobox matlab-mpm
   

2. Activate Docker and add to user group

   sudo systemctl enable --now docker
   sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
   newgrp docker
   

3. Install MATLAB through mpm

   mpm install --release=R2025b --destination=$HOME/.local/MATLAB/R2025b --products MATLAB
   

4. Create the container

   distrobox create -n matlab --image docker.io/debian:13 # Or you can use 12
   

5. Access the container

   distrobox enter matlab
   

6. Install dependencies within container

   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y build-essential git procps locales
   sudo apt-get install task-desktop
   

7. Activate your license

   ~/.local/MATLAB/R2025b/bin/glnxa64/MathWorksProductAuthorizer
   

8. Execute MATLAB

   ~/.local/MATLAB/R2025b/bin/matlab -desktop
   

9. Create a .desktop file in ~./local/share/applications/. It may look something like the following…

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=Matlab
   GenericName=Scientific Computing
   Comment=MATLAB on Debian
   Categories=Science;Development;Education
   Exec=/usr/bin/distrobox enter  matlab -- /home/<user>/.local/MATLAB/R2025b/bin/matlab -desktop
   Keywords=distrobox;
   Terminal=false
   TryExec=/usr/bin/distrobox
   Type=Application
   Actions=Remove;
   
   [Desktop Action Remove]
   Name=Remove Matlab from system
   Exec=/usr/bin/distrobox rm  matlab