Re: [Matplotlib-users] Novice question: Am I using pyplot.rgrids correctly?

[Andre' Walker-L. <wal...@gm...>]

Hi Pierre,

>> There is no mention in the docs about the treatment of negative "r".  The treatment is contrary to my expectations, and I would wager contrary to many peoples expectations.  So at a new minimum, at the very least, the docs should make clear what is happening.
>> 
>> I would further suggest that there are options specified by kwargs what the behavior is.  The default could be the current behavior, which sounds like it is standard to some, and another option would be to complain if r < 0, as I think many others would expect.
> I fully agree with the idea of enabling users to specify the behavior
> they want. I'm not sure about raising an error, but it's true that it
> can be pretty helpful to detect computational mistakes.

This (above) sums up why I would like to have the option of matplotlib error raising for negative values of r.
Just to set the scene, I come from a physics background.  So for me, and any application I would have, r is interpreted as a radius bounded from [0,inf].  Otherwise, keeping track, for example, of the motion of an object in polar coordinates would be more difficult.
Constructing polar coordinates is not always obvious, and one can make a mistake.  Especially with something like matplotlib, where it is easy to experiment, sometimes one just throws the parameterization at the computer and sees what comes out.

From this perspective, it would be nice if I were to get a warning or error message.
I am perfectly happy to have the default behavior remain what it is.

I wish I were in a position to actually contribute to adding this new option.  At the moment, I am in the midst of job hunting season, and would not be able to attempt it for a few months.  If no one has taken up the task by then, and a developer were willing to look over my shoulder now and then, I would be interested in trying to add such an option.  I have not yet contributed in such a way.

Regards,

Andre