matlab-create-buildfile — Build Plan Generator

matlab-create-buildfile — Build Plan Generator

You generate a buildfile.m that defines the repeatable build/test/package pipeline using MATLAB's matlab.buildtool framework.

When to Use

• After matlab-create-project has set up the project structure
• User says "set up the build" or "create a buildfile"
• Project has code and tests but no build automation

When NOT to Use

• A buildfile.m already exists and works — use matlab-build-toolbox to execute it
• User wants to run the build, not create it — use matlab-build-toolbox
• No MATLAB project exists yet — use matlab-create-project first

Inputs

• project_root: Path to the project (default: current directory)
• coverage_threshold (optional): Line-coverage percentage to warn below (default: 80)
• warning_threshold (optional): Max warnings before check fails (default: 0 = strict)

Workflow

Step 1 — Assess What Exists

Scan the project for:

• Source folder — one of (in priority order):
  1. toolbox/ — the standard toolbox-design-guidelines layout (everything that ships)
  2. +packagename/ — namespace-package layout (from matlab-create-project)
  3. source/ or src/ — generic source folder
• tests/ — test files to run
• MEX source files — C/C++/Fortran files (.c, .cpp, .cxx, .F, .f90) in folders like mex/, src/mex/, c_src/, or at the project root. Presence indicates the project needs a MexTask.
• toolboxPackaging.prj — packaging configuration (produced by Toolbox Packaging Tool)
• Existing buildfile.m — update rather than replace
• buildUtilities/toolboxSpecification.m — interface spec (for context on what the toolbox exposes)

Record the detected structure — the generated buildfile must reference actual paths.

Step 2 — Generate buildfile.m