So, i've been trying for weeks to get matlab to work. splash screen just flashes

I've pretty much done everything i could find online. Matlab's documentation seems to be worthless. nothing solves the problem. When I execute /usr/local/matlabR2010a/bin/glnx86/MATLAB, the only that happens is that the splash screen flashes for a split second. If I run this from the CL then I get a CL version of MATLAB to run.

If you bought this program then I think you are eligible for support: http://www.mathworks.com/support/ and http://www.mathworks.com/company/aboutus/contact_us/ (always when you buy something, contact the manufacturer)

Libre software comes with no warranty and support must be bought from companies that offer such support or if you don't need such support, there is the so called -community- (i.e. ordinary people/users who use the program or the developers of that program that are willing to help), proprietary software on the other hand is supported by the vendor who made it, so you should directly contact "that vendor".