[matplotlib-devel] The Matplotlib frontend is no longer graphics library neutral

[Steve C. <ste...@ya...>]

I always thought of matplotlib as providing a graphics library neutral
frontend, which can be coupled with a choice of many backends.

However, if I choose to edit setup.py and change
BUILD_AGG = 1
to
BUILD_AGG = 0
(and BUILD_IMAGE = 0 too)

after 'python setup.py build'
I still see the message "building 'matplotlib._agg' extension"
and notice that agg.py and _agg.so still get installed.

Also, I see the frontend file lines.py has:
    import matplotlib.agg

So even if someone wishes to use just the ps, svg, cairo or gtk backends,
they must compile, install, and import agg even though they did not wish
to use it.

Steve

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