This is a reproducer for an issue with parfor in MATLAB R2023a--R2025a.

To see the issue, do the following in MATLAB R2023a--R2025a with the Parallel Computing Toolbox installed.

1. Download this directory. Suppose that you name it test_parfor.

2. Open MATLAB and change the current directory to test_parfor.

3. Run the following command in the MATLAB command window:

   test

   It should print Success! at the end.

4. Now, run the following command in the MATLAB command window:

   profile

   It should fail with an error like the following:

    Analyzing and transferring files to the workers ...done.
    {Error using try_parfor (line 6)
    The source code
    (/home/runner/work/test_matlab/test_matlab/test_parfor/try_parfor/try_parfor.m)
    for the parfor-loop that is trying to execute on the worker could not be found.
   
    Error in profile (line 10)
        try_parfor(func);
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
   
    Caused by:
        Unrecognized function or variable 'fun'.
        Worker unable to find file.
            Unrecognized function or variable 'fun'.
    }
    exit status 1
   

However, comparing test.m and profile.m, you will find that they are identical except for the function names. Is this expected or a bug?

I understand that the failure must depend on the fact that MATLAB has a built-in function named "profile", which is shadowed by "profile.m". Needless to say, this is bad practice, but it is not clear to me why it should lead to such a failure.

See https://github.com/zequipe/test_matlab/actions/workflows/test_parfor.yml for a GitHub Actions workflow that tests this on MATLAB R2020b+.