Hello, I was having trouble getting matplotlib to link to the correct Tcl and Tk, and as a result uncovered what I would call a bug, or at least unpredictable behavior.
Basically, I have a custom Tcl/Tk installation, and I setup python to correctly find them, so I have the expectation that Matplotlib would use the same Tk. It can be pretty easily figured out just by importing Tkinter. Anyway, I looked through the matplotlib setupext.py and discovered that there is a function that does this, and correctly: query_tcltk anyway, the logic in the setupext file is such that if the sys.platform is 'darwin' then it will look for a Framework first (maybe only), and since there is always an ancient system version of Tcl and Tk, it will always pick those before anywhere else. The system frameworks are not complete, and I know you all recommend installing a binary with everything in it. Unfortunately, I did not have this option for unimportant reasons. Either way, I do believe that it is a bug that it does not choose the Tk that is being used by Python or at least trying to before using other available libraries and frameworks. This is easy enough for me to fix just for myself and at work, but I believe that you all should consider using Python's Tk for these reasons: 1). If python was installed from source, this is the one that the user configured python to use, and therefore is the one they trust. 2). If the Tk/Tcl libraries were installed from source instead of using the binaries you suggested installing, then it will just use the wrong system Framework anyway. I bet people using macports and other unix-like package managers on mac end up submitting a lot of bug reports over this. 3). It is just more predictable and sustainable if modules set Python as their standard base. Besides, it isn't much work as you already wrote a function to find the correct tcl and tk. 4). I don't mind helping write the patch. I am only worried about not knowing the intricacies of all the random supported platforms that you all look out for. For example: I know jack about Windows linking. Either way, I'll update it if you have someone look at it. I'll work on it sometimes this week when I'm not too busy at work and send it in. Anyway, I am hoping that I convinced you all, and look forward to helping fix this. Have a great rest-of-the-week! Jayson ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Create and Deploy Rich Internet Apps outside the browser with Adobe(R)AIR(TM) software. With Adobe AIR, Ajax developers can use existing skills and code to build responsive, highly engaging applications that combine the power of local resources and data with the reach of the web. Download the Adobe AIR SDK and Ajax docs to start building applications today-http://p.sf.net/sfu/adobe-com _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-devel mailing list Matplotlib-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-devel
