Fernando and Eric have offered very nice explanations, but I have one thing to add:
Fernando Perez wrote: > hopefully the responsibilities will be: > > - ipython -> interactive work > - numpy/scipy -> numerics > - matploblib -> plotting I sure hope so too. > Following these ideas, in my personal use I normally do: > > import numpy as N > import scipy as S > import pylab as P I do something very similar - I really believe in namespaces, "import *" is a "bad idea". However, I also try to avoid pylab altogether, in favor of: import matplotlib as MPL, MPL.PlottingStuff() matplotlib provides the plotting functionality in a nice OO way. pylab is essentially a wrapper that provides a Matlab-like procedural interface to matplotlib. For me, one of the reasons I use python, rather than Matlab is that it is a richer, more feature-full language, including OO. Some folks think the procedural approach is better for interactive use, but I'm not so sure, and I'm quite sure that the OO approach is better for "real programs" At this point, it isn't quite possible to use just matplotlib for interactive use, as pylab has the functionality to manage the figure windows, etc, so I do use a tiny bit of pylab there, but try to keep to the OO interface otherwise. THe key stumbling block is docs -- most of the docs and tutorials use the pylab interface, so it's a bit harder to figure out what to do. This should help get you started: http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/message.php?msg_id=11033442 (Did that ever get up on the Wiki?, and/or does anyone have other pointers?) -Chris -- Christopher Barker, Ph.D. Oceanographer Emergency Response Division NOAA/NOS/OR&R (206) 526-6959 voice 7600 Sand Point Way NE (206) 526-6329 fax Seattle, WA 98115 (206) 526-6317 main reception [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys - and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-users mailing list Matplotlib-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-users
