Re: [Matplotlib-users] howto write matplotlib backend?

[John H. <jd...@gm...>]

On Nov 26, 2007 7:30 AM, Mihail <mih...@ya...> wrote:
>
> Somewhere I found some hints how to get started writing a new backend for
> matplotlib. It
> mentioned some almost empty kind of template that you could extend for your
> needs.
>
> I cannot find this description again. Would somebody help, please?

In the src dir of maptlotlib, there is a file
lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_template.py that describes the
process, and gives you a template you can start with.  Two things you
should know:

We feel we currently have too many backends and are interested in
paring the number down, so the threshold for inclusion of a new
backend is rather high.  It is a support headache to deal with so many
backends when we want to make changes.  So if you are interested in
your backend being included in the official distribution, you might
want to propose the backend you want to include first to get some
feedback from the other developers.   We need to add support for
"external backends" that can work outside the official distribution,
so local sites can have custom backends that suit there purposes, but
we haven't gotten to this yet.

Secondly, Michael has been doing extensive work in the "transforms"
branch that significantly impact (and simplify) the backend API, and
this branch will become the mpl main line in the not-too-distant
future.  So if you are starting work on a new backend, you'll probably
want to start over there.  Michael, have you been updating
backend_template with your changes?

JDH