1. Install Matlab or GNU Octave.
   • Matlab installation.
     • Many schools provide free access to matlab either in computer labs and/or for personal computers.
     • Matlab also sells a heavily discounted version for students.
     • If are affiliated with Boston University, you can download MATLAB for free.
   • Octave installation.
     • Octave is free and open-source, and uses a syntax very similar to Matlab such that most code is interchangeable.
2. Download the DynaSim toolbox. Choose one of the following methods:
   • Beginner: Zip download (provides current version, but requires manual updates).
     • To update, re-download the zip file and overwrite your DynaSim-master directory. Be sure to backup any content in the models folder, copying it back to DynaSim-master after overwriting.
   • Intermediate: GitHub Desktop (provides a graphical interface for simpler updating).
     • Get started here.
   • Advanced: git clone (provides a command-line interface for automatic updating and power user features; this is recommended for developers).
     • If using Git on the Mac/Linux command line (aka Terminal), you can clone the DynaSim code using this command: git clone https://github.com/dynasim/dynasim.git.
     • To download updates using git, run the command git pull from inside the DynaSim directory.
     • More help can be found here.
3. Add the DynaSim toolbox to your Matlab path. Choose one of the following methods:
   • From the Matlab Command Window type these 2 commands (must be done every time you start Matlab):
     • addpath(genpath('YOUR/PATH/TO/DynaSim'))
     • savepath
   • Using startup.m (needs to be done only once):
     • If not already present, create a file named startup.m in your Documents/MATLAB folder
     • Add this line to the startup.m file: addpath(genpath(fullfile('your', 'custom', 'path', 'to', 'DynaSim'))).
       • Example: If one downloads the DynaSim code to /home/wgibson/Documents/DynaSim, then one would add either of the following to the startup.m file: addpath(genpath(fullfile('home', 'wgibson', 'Documents', 'DynaSim'))) addpath(genpath('/home/wgibson/Documents/DynaSim'))
       • IMPORTANT: Make sure that your startup file DOES NOT change the current directory (i.e., no uses of cd to change directory). This helps prevent problems during submission of batch jobs on a cluster.
   • More help with adding paths can be found here.

These same instructions are valid for both your local computer and for Linux clusters.

→ Getting started tutorial