Force Code Generator to Use Run-Time Recursion

When your MATLAB^® code includes recursive function calls, the code generator uses compile-time or run-time recursion. With compile-time recursion, the code generator creates multiple versions of the recursive function in the generated code. These versions are known as function specializations. With run-time recursion, the code generator produces a recursive function. If compile-time recursion results in too many function specializations or if you prefer run-time recursion, you can try to force the code generator to use run-time recursion. Try one of these approaches:

Treat the Input to the Recursive Function as a Nonconstant

Consider this function:

function y = call_recfcn(n)
A = ones(1,n);
x = 5;
y = recfcn(A,x);
end

function y = recfcn(A,x)
if size(A,2) == 1 || x == 1
    y = A(1);
else
    y = A(1)+recfcn(A(2:end),x-1);
end
end

call_recfcn calls recfcn with the value 5 for the second argument. recfcn calls itself recursively until x is 1. For each recfcn call, the input argument x has a different value. The code generator produces five specializations of recfcn, one for each call. You can see the specializations in the MATLAB Function report.

To force run-time recursion, in call_recfcn, in the call to recfcn, instruct the code generator to treat the value of the input argument x as a nonconstant value by using coder.ignoreConst.

function y = call_recfcn(n)
A = ones(1,n);
x = coder.ignoreConst(5);
y = recfcn(A,x);
end

function y = recfcn(A,x)
if size(A,2) == 1 || x == 1
    y = A(1);
else
    y = A(1)+recfcn(A(2:end),x-1);
end
end

In the MATLAB Function report, you see only one specialization.

Make the Input to the Recursive Function Variable-Size

Consider this code:

function z = call_mysum(A)
%#codegen
z = mysum(A);
end

function y = mysum(A)
coder.inline('never');
if size(A,2) == 1
    y = A(1);
else
    y = A(1)+ mysum(A(2:end));
end
end

If the input to mysum is fixed-size, the code generator uses compile-time recursion. To force the code generator to use run-time conversion, make the input to mysum variable-size by using coder.varsize.

function z = call_mysum(A)
%#codegen
B = A;
coder.varsize('B');
z = mysum(B);
end

function y = mysum(A)
coder.inline('never');
if size(A,2) == 1
    y = A(1);
else
    y = A(1)+ mysum(A(2:end));
end
end

Assign Output Variable Before the Recursive Call

The code generator uses compile-time recursion for this code:

function y = callrecursive(n)
x = 10;
y = myrecursive(x,n);
end

function y = myrecursive(x,n)
coder.inline('never')
if x > 1
    y = n + myrecursive(x-1,n-1);
    
else
    y = n;
end
end

To force the code generator to use run-time recursion, modify myrecursive so that the output y is assigned before the recursive call. Place the assignment y = n in the if block and the recursive call in the else block.

function y = callrecursive(n)
x = 10;
y = myrecursive(x,n);
end

function y = myrecursive(x,n)
coder.inline('never')
if x == 1
    y = n;  
else
    y = n + myrecursive(x-1,n-1);
end
end

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