On 2012-06-09 15:18, pybokeh wrote: > Maybe workflow may not be the appropriate term. Essentially, when I want > to plot something using matplotlib, I find myself having to look up the api > docs or examples online because quite frankly, matplotlib's syntax is very > hard to remember. I use ipython and use tab browsing, help(), dir(), etc, > and that seem to help to some extent. I absolutely love matplotlib, but > when I want to put a chart up quickly, matplotlib is just a "hassle" > depending on what chart you want to create. I do expect this since > plotting with matplotlib, you are essentially creating a chart > "programmatically", instead of GUI interface environment. But still, I > feel like an improvement could still be made in making charts simpler with > matplotlib.
Just wanted to mention that I've managed to get a good workflow going using DreamPie. I haven't seen much talk about DreamPie on here, but it's really useful for working with matplotlib. Although I haven't used ipython, I get the impression DreamPie is like a GUI version of that. It provides a two-window interface sort of like a chat or MUD client, with a separate editing window where you can enter code, and an output window where your code and results are displayed. Most importantly for present purposes, it's matplotlib-aware so you can use interactive plotting commands and have it "just work" (i.e., not hang the program as with IDLE). It also provides name-completion and docstring tooltips, making it easy to scan the docs for a particular function to refresh my memory about its arguments. DreamPie makes it pretty doable to make iterative tweaks to the same plotting code until I get it into a form that I want, at which point I can copy and paste it into a file for storage. I do think there are areas where matplotlib starts to get in its own way, in that its powerful features obscure the path toward simple goals. It seems like wrapper libs that provide a simpler interface (like I guess this Canvas thing you mentioned) could be useful for getting around that. -- Brendan Barnwell "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail." --author unknown ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-users mailing list Matplotlib-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-users