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Since I learned about openCV (and python), I don't get why people still use MATLAB for computer vision.

I believe MATLAB is probably very useful for control systems (with Simulink) or signal processing or any very special case for which there is a unique MATLAB toolbox.

Why is it still so much used in universities? Does Numpy/Scipy cover MATLAB scientific/numerical computing?

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Universities usually don't use "turnkey" solutions, because the point is to actually implement algorithms, that are hidden behind Simple/OpenCV method calls. Matlab, being a very fast numeric platform, most CS students know, is perfect for that purpose.

The algorithms we implemented in CV classes on the University were pretty performance sensitive - enough that running them in Octave instead of Matlab made them run for 15min+. Python with NumPy was much worse.

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