How do I delete system files related to MATLAB from Mac OS?

Hi Tech Stars,

I am not much of a computer geek so I would really appreciate any advice on this subject -

I tried deleting MATLAB from my macbook by removing the application and its related system/data files. While the application itself was easily removed by moving it to trash, the system files just seem to be too stubbornly stuck in the system (hard disk) - see attached picture of the system files being referred here. For some reason, these files just would not allow the option of moving to trash and hence could not be deleted. I even tried resetting the machine to factory settings, re-installing the OS, and still could not get rid of these.

After several tries, I have really given up since I do not have the right knowledge to fix this issue and here I am asking for expert advice that may help. I have not faced such an issue while deleting any other apps, so this does not seem to be a normal issue.

Thanks for reading!

[Walter Roberson]

Those do not appear to be files created by MATLAB to me -- except mabye the folder.

What are the locations of the files?

[Ritika]

I AM FACING SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

matlab.vim is not installed by MATLAB; it is installed as part of MacOS, as a configuration file for use with the vim editor . The location of the file is /usr/share/vim/vim*/ subfolders syntax, ftplugin and indent . For example /usr/share/vin/vim81/syntax/matlab.vim is one of the three configuration files installed with the MacOS-supplied program vim version 8.1 .

matlab.in is related, and is in /usr/share/vim/vim*/ident/testdir where vim* is the vim version. matlab.ok is in the same directory.

_matlab appears to be installed as part of MacOS, in /usr/share/zsh/VERSION/functions were VERSION is a numeric version number such as 5.3 or 5.7.1 . It looks to me as if it is a bit of code that is used to provide command line completion hints for use with the z shell.

Reinstalling the OS did not get rid of these because all of these were supplied with the OS itself.