Getting Started with SimLab
Everything you need to go from zero to running your first simulation in under five minutes.
What is SimLab?#
SimLab is a free, browser-based computational workspace that speaks MATLAB®-compatible syntax. You get access to over 200 built-in functions spanning linear algebra, signal processing, control systems, symbolic math, and more. SimLab’s core parser, workspace state, and most functions run locally in your browser. There is no desktop installation.
Think of it as a pocket-sized MATLAB you can open on any computer with a modern web browser. The workspace keeps scripts, variables, and figures in the browser tab, with optional local saves and explicitly connected features. There is no MATLAB license to manage and no desktop application to download.
SimLab is built for students learning numerical methods, engineers who need a quick calculation scratchpad, and anyone who wants to explore math and science interactively without the overhead of installing desktop software.
Execution, Network, and Privacy Boundary#
SimLab’s core parser, workspace state, and most functions run locally in your browser.
For eligible large inputs, SimLab may automatically send the selected function name and arguments to the Simulations4All compute service. Sharing, feedback, and analytics use separate connected features.
Opening the workspace creates a server session. Unless event analytics is opted out, SimLab may send function names, durations, interaction metadata, sizes, and bounded error metadata. Scripts are not intentionally included in analytics events; compute, sharing, and feedback have separate payloads.
Offline use is not guaranteed. Already-loaded cached local features may continue without a connection, but opening or reloading SimLab, uncached assets, server computation, sharing, feedback, and analytics can require the network.
Server computation is routed through /api/simlab/compute. Connected requests are rate-limited and fail closed or fall back to a supported local implementation when the service is unavailable.
System Requirements#
SimLab’s core parser, workspace state, and most functions run locally in your browser. Here are the minimum versions we support:
| Browser | Minimum Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | 90+ | Recommended. Full WebGPU support in 113+. |
| Firefox | 90+ | Full support. WebGPU behind flag in Nightly. |
| Edge | 90+ | Chromium-based, same support as Chrome. |
| Safari | 15+ | Works well. WebGPU support in 17+. |
Opening the Workspace#
Go to simulations4all.com/simlab and click the "Open Workspace" button. The workspace loads in a new tab — that is your full environment with a console, script editor, workspace viewer, and plotting panel all in one screen.
No account is needed. Just click and start computing.
Interface Tour#
The workspace has five main areas. Here is what each one does:
Console
The command line at the bottom of the screen. Type any expression and press Enter to evaluate it immediately. Results appear right below your input. Use Up and Down arrows to recall previous commands.
Script Editor
A multi-line text editor for writing longer programs. Write your code, then press Ctrl+Enter to run the entire script. Use % for single-line comments, just like MATLAB.
Workspace Panel
Shows every variable currently in memory. You can see each variable's name, size, type, and value. It updates in real time as you run commands. Click a variable to inspect its full contents.
Figure Panel
Where plots and visualizations appear. Call plot(), scatter(), bar(), or any plotting function and the chart renders here. Multiple figures stack vertically, and you can export them as PNG images.
Sidebar
Access file operations (save, load, export), function help, keyboard shortcuts, and settings from the collapsible sidebar on the left. Toggle it with the hamburger icon or press Ctrl+Shift+H for function reference.
Your First Commands#
Type each of these into the console and press Enter. Watch the result appear instantly.
% Basic arithmetic
2 + 3
% ans = 5% Create a variable
x = 42
% x = 42% Create a vector and compute its mean
v = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]
mean(v)
% ans = 30% Create a matrix
A = [1, 2; 3, 4]
% A =
% 1 2
% 3 4% Use built-in constants
pi
% ans = 3.141592653589793
sin(pi / 2)
% ans = 1% Quick plot
x = linspace(0, 2*pi, 100);
plot(x, sin(x))
title('Sine Wave')
xlabel('x (radians)')
ylabel('sin(x)');) to suppress output. Without it, every expression prints its result to the console.Running Scripts#
For anything longer than a one-liner, use the Script Editor. Click the editor tab, write your code, then press Ctrl+Enter to execute the entire script at once.
Scripts run top to bottom, just like MATLAB. All variables created in a script become available in the workspace and console. Comments start with % and are ignored during execution.
% Example script: quadratic formula solver
a = 1;
b = -5;
c = 6;
discriminant = b^2 - 4*a*c;
x1 = (-b + sqrt(discriminant)) / (2*a);
x2 = (-b - sqrt(discriminant)) / (2*a);
disp('Roots:')
disp(x1)
disp(x2)Saving Work#
SimLab gives you three ways to save your work:
| Method | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save to Browser | Ctrl+S | Saves the current script to your browser's local storage. It persists across sessions on the same device and browser. |
| Export as .sl | File → Export | Downloads a .sl file to your computer. You can import it later with Ctrl+I or drag-and-drop onto the editor. |
| Share URL | Ctrl+Shift+S | Generates a link that encodes your script in the URL. Anyone with the link can open it and see your code instantly — great for sharing with classmates or colleagues. |
.sl file as a backup.