How to Install Packages for Octave

Similar to MATLAB, GNU Octave is an interpretive programming language that primarily uses highly complex mathematical computations to create graphic images, and is often utilized to write interactive, graphically intense applications. You can install additional packages for GNU Octave using the Octave command line shell that's very similar to a Linux prompt. Download the installation files for a package in the "tar.gz" format, then execute the command to download and install the selected package.

Things You'll Need

• Octave installed

Instructions

1. Open a Web browser and navigate to the Octave Forge site at octave.sourceforge.net. Click the "Packages" link on the top navigation bar. Choose a package to install from the "Packages" page and click the "Download" link associated with the package. Save the package file to the hard drive.

2. Open Octave to display the command prompt.

3. Type the following command at the prompt and press the "Enter" key. Replace "packagefilename" with the actual name of the package:

   pkg install packagefilename.tar.gz

   The package installs to Octave.

References

• Octave Forge: Install Packages - FAQ

Resources

• Octave: GNU Octave
• Octave Forge: Packages