Matplotlib while debugging in Pycharm: How to turn off interactive mode?

Question

First of all, I am working on the Pycharm debug console and want to put a caption under my diagram. According to this answer this can be achieved by:

plt.plot([2,5,1,2]
fig = plt.figure()
fig.text(.5, .05, "text", ha="center")
plt.show()

However, this shows me the plot at first, then an empty window (after typing the second line) and nothing later.

I figured out this must be because of interactive mode of matplotlib so I turned it off using plt.ioff() in the debug session after which plt.isinteractive() returns False. Still this does not change its behaviour and shows the plot right after the plt.plot(...) command.

Weirdly enough when I put plt.ioff() in my script, it is ignored and plt.isinteractive() returns True.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

plt.ioff()
plt.plot([1,2,3,4,5])
print(plt.isinteractive())

My system information:

PyCharm CE 2017.3.2
macOS Sierra 10.12.6
Python 3.6.3 in an Anaconda Environment

Can anyone reproduce this? Is there another way to create more complicated diagrams from the Pycharm debug console? I would prefer to not change my development environment everytime I want to plot something more complicated.

FlyingTeller · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-14 21:40:02Z

7

To answer your question: use a different (non interactive) backend:

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('Agg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

Your code is probably not working because you created the figure instance after your plot. Try:

fig = plt.figure()
plt.plot([2,5,1,2]
fig.text(.5, .05, "text", ha="center")
plt.show()

answered Mar 14, 2018 at 21:40

FlyingTeller

21k3 gold badges49 silver badges62 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

10 Comments

PeterHeuz Over a year ago

Using your suggested different backend does not show me any plot now. Nether with plt.plot(...) nor with plt.plot(...) and plt.show(). Executing my test file (without matplotlib.use('Agg')) from the bash works as expected: it displays the plots after plt.show() and I can even do interactive plotting with pdb.

FlyingTeller Over a year ago

That is what a non interactive backend does, it is not supposed to open a window with your plot in it. Where you able to solve your original problem with the text not showing by switching the figure and plot call?

PeterHeuz Over a year ago

The text works now, thanks! But my main problem that I want to plot in debug mode of pycharm just like it works from the bash with pdb is not solved.

FlyingTeller Over a year ago

It still displays empty figures?

FlyingTeller Over a year ago

@slashdottir It"s the backend that uses the Anti-Grain Geometry engine. For more info on backends, read the docs

|

Mario · Accepted Answer · 2024-12-10 12:27:01Z

0

Just another option if someone is facing the same issues:

Check, if interactive plots are enabled in the PyCharm settings.

Search for: Use "mpld3" interactive plots for Matplotlib

and disable it.

answered Dec 10, 2024 at 12:27

Mario

4284 silver badges14 bronze badges

Comments

L Tyrone · Accepted Answer · 2024-07-11 07:15:04Z

-1

I solved this by adding this line matplotlib.use('module://backend_interagg'). None of the other backend options worked for me.

edited Jul 11, 2024 at 7:15

L Tyrone

8,36123 gold badges34 silver badges47 bronze badges

answered Jul 10, 2024 at 15:19

anispepper

1

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Matplotlib while debugging in Pycharm: How to turn off interactive mode?

3 Answers 3

10 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

10 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related