create a function while protecting it's code

i am working towards publishing my code. while most of it i hope to publish as an open source code, there is one function that i would like to leave protected and encrypted. i understood that there are three options:

a. publishing a p-code- I understand this option is insecure and not reccomended

b. password protecting my file- could that really work? wouldn't that be easy to by-pass by a skilled matlab person is there a secure function that does that?

c. compile creating a stand-alone file. my problem with this is that (i think) such a stand-alone file would be difficult to implement as part of a general, open-source matlab code. would it be possible? is it possible to create an executable file that communicates well with matlab? would be thankfull for any examples or references

many thanks

Nathan

Answer 1

[Ameer Hamza]

I think you can try to create a mex function using MATLAB coder. It compiles your MATLAB code using C or C++ compiler and converts it into a binary file. However, you can directly run it insider MATLAB like a normal function. The MATLAB source code is not accessible through mex file.

[nathan blanc]

thank you ameer. this seems exactly what i am looking for do you have any references?

[Ameer Hamza]

If you have MATLAB code, then go to the APPS tab and open the MATLAB coder app. The App provides a pretty intuitive workflow to generate the mex file. This link will also be helpful: https://www.mathworks.com/help/coder/ug/how-to-generate-mex-functions-using-the-matlab-coder-project-interface.html

[nathan blanc]

thanks!