Mfit provides an attractive and easy to use point-and-click interface. Most operations (including guessing starting parameters for fits) can be performed via the mouse. easy use.
You can provide your own load routines so that data files in any unusual or proprietary format can be loaded transparently. Load routines for some common formats are supplied. easy data import.
You can easily write and add your own fitting functions to the library of existing functions. The MATLAB language makes it very easy to write even complex functions, and speed-critical functions can be written in C or FORTRAN. custom fit functions.
You can write your own fitting routines, so that you are not tied to any particular fitting algorithm. You need not even use least-squares minimization. You can write interfaces to popular minimization routines such as MINUIT. custom fit routines.
Repetitive fitting operations can be automated using a simple batch language. easy automation.
Mfit is written entirely in the MATLAB language, and so should run on any operating system to which MATLAB has been ported without modification (tested under HP-UX, VMS, Sun OS, and all MS Windows so far.). portable.
The next section describes how to obtain, install, and use Mfit.