Move backend mapping to Matplotlib #14311
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Thanks for opening this up for awareness, @ianthomas23 ! This sounds like a good plan to me. I think the only modification we'd want is to keep the current hardcoded functionality to support older versions of Matplotlib that will not have the |
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+1, I have no issue hardcoding a matplotlib version check in IPython to either fall to the hardcoded path or assuming things get registered. |
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Thanks both. Yes, I'll put in a check on I have a concern about |
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We can add a getattr to the module level that warns about pending deprecation on access. |
This is WIP to move IPython's backend mapping into Matplotlib and extends it to allow backends to register themselves via [entry points](https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/userguide/entry_point.html#entry-points-for-plugins). It is a coordinated effort across Matplotlib, IPython, matplotlib-inline and ipympl. Closes #14311. Most of the work is in Matplotlib (matplotlib/matplotlib#27948) but I will repeat the relevant points here. When using a Matplotlib magic command of the form `%matplotlib something` the identification of the Matplotlib backend and GUI loop are now performed in Matplotlib not IPython. This supports: 1. Matplotlib backends that IPython already supports such as `qtagg` and `tkagg`. 2. Other built-in Matplotlib backends such as `qtcairo`. 3. Backends that use `module://something` syntax such as `module://mplcairo.qt`. 4. Backends that self-register using entry points, currently `inline` and `widget`/`ipympl`. Implementation details: 1. The magic command is now explicitly `%matplotlib gui_or_backend` rather than `%matplotlib gui`. This is already effectively the case as e.g. `%matplotlib ipympl` is really a backend not GUI name. Within Matplotlib the `gui_or_backend` is checked first to see if it is a GUI name and then falls back to checking if it is a backend name. 2. If you select the `inline` backend the corresponding GUI is now `None` not `inline`. All backends which do not have a GUI loop return `None`, otherwise we have to keep explicit checks within IPython for particular backends. 3. `backends` and `backend2gui` are now deprecated but are still exposed, with a deprecation warning, if required. If using Matplotlib, ipympl, etc releases that include the corresponding changes to this PR then they are not needed as Matplotlib deals with it all. But for backward compatibility they must still be available for a while along with the remainder of the existing backend-handling code. 4. I haven't yet updated the documentation but we need to keep information about valid GUI frameworks and I propose that we should remove all lists of valid Matplotlib backends, replacing them with instructions on how to obtain the current list (pointing to the Matplotlib docs and using `%matplotlib --list`). If we keep any lists then they will inevitably become out of date. This extends to the `backend_keys` in IPython/core/shellapp.py. Because the four related projects are loosely coupled without direct dependencies on each other (except for `ipython` and `matplotlib-inline`), backward compatibility requires all possible combinations of projects before and after the new functionality (I will call these "old" and "new" from now on) to continue to work. I have tested these all locally, and the CI of this PR will test new IPython against old Matplotlib for example, but I need to add one or more new temporary CI runs to test new IPython against new Matplotlib etc. The identification of new versus old depends on version checks on the other libraries, so here is a table that I will update showing the current status of progress in the 4 projects: | Project | Relevant PRs | Possible release version | | --- | --- | --- | | matplotlib-inline | ipython/matplotlib-inline#34, ipython/matplotlib-inline#35 | 0.1.7 | | ipympl | matplotlib/ipympl#549 | 0.9.4 | | Matplotlib | matplotlib/matplotlib#27948 | 3.9.1 | | IPython | #14371 (this) | 8.24.0 | The two widget projects can be released soon, once we are happy with the entry point approach. The other two projects' PRs will have to be synchronised as each includes version checks on each other. To do - [ ] Add CI runs against the new PR branches of the other projects. - [ ] Add comments for conditions required for backward-compatibility code blocks to be removed. - [ ] Update documentation, including removal of lists of valid backends. - [ ] Update version checks before merging.
I wanted to draw your attention to matplotlib/matplotlib#27663, about moving the Matplotlib backend mappings out of IPython and into Matplotlib.
The primary use case it so support Matplotlib widgets (
ipymplandmatplotlib-inline) registering themselves as Matplotlib backends without requiring additional code in IPython and/or Matplotlib. The secondary use case is to support backends in IPython using Matplotlib'smodule://name.of.the.backendsyntax, e.g.which one can already do using
matplotlib.use(...)but not directly via the%matplotlibmagic.Whilst doing this it seems sensible to bring all of the backend registering and mapping together in one place, and that should be Matplotlib rather than IPython. I am not sure how easy (or even possible!) it will be to remove all the related hard-coded stuff in IPython, but I am willing to start and see how it goes.
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