[Matplotlib-users] mpl 1.3 & xkcd

[Skip M. <sk...@po...>]

At work both mpl 1.1 and mpl 1.2 are installed. (I have no idea why.)
Vagaries of our current packaging cause problems (import finds 1.1
before 1.2 in sys.path). The question was what to do. I took a look at
the latest What's New document and concluded that removing 1.1 would
be the best route.

In the process, I also skimmed the 1.3 release notes. What's this? How
was it that I missed the new xkcd style??? I mentioned this in my
reply about the 1.1/1.2 internecine conflict. Almost immediately, I
got two responses:

"I always preferred GNUplot over matplotlib until I heard there was an
xkcd mode in matplotlib." - Vic

"I don't use matplotlib but all of a sudden I have the urge to plot
something JUST to use the xkcd plotting format." Mark

I don't know who is responsible for your marketing, but they clearly
need to blanket the world with press releases about this new
functionality. This could be the "killer app" for matplotlib. I can't
wait until we see xkcd-style plots in "Science" or "The Astrophysical
Journal". :-)

Skip