25 Jul 2015

How to install matplotlib using virtualenv on Ubuntu

Tags	matplotlib python ubuntu virtualenv

System Requirements

This was done on a system with the following specifications:

Lubuntu 14.04 (which is pretty much Ubuntu 14.04 underneath)
Python 2.7.6

You’ll probably do fine following the instructions below if you’re using a system with similar specifications.

Assumptions

We’ll be installing matplotlib 1.4.3 .

We assume that there is the following folder hierarchy somewhere on your system:

your_repo
|--- requirements.txt
|--- venv

where:

your_repo is a folder that you have some Python code using matplotlib
venv is a folder created using virtualenv venv; you’ll activate the virtualenv in the your_repo folder using the . venv/bin/activate command
requirements.txt contains a line to install matplotlib. For me, this line is matplotlib==1.4.3

Commands to run

sudo apt-get -y build-dep matplotlib
cd your_repo
. venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

The magic is in the sudo apt-get -y build-dep matplotlib line, which will install all the build dependencies for matplotlib.

Check that matplotlib has been installed properly

Save the following code into check_matplotlib.py in the your_repo folder:

import matplotlib.pyplot as pyplot
pyplot.pie([1, 2, 3])
pyplot.show()

Activate the virtualenv if you have not, and run python check_matplotlib.py. You should see something like this:

And voila, there you have it =)

Credits

Based on this answer on Stack Overflow by HiddenGhost.

Motivation

Was reading Section 2.5 of Think Stats, wanted to install matplotlib on a virtualenv but nothing showed up when I ran the example code in the book. Googled around, tried several answers on Stack Overflow which didn’t work or suggested doing a system-wide installation, but didn’t want to. I have no idea why I tried part of Hidden Ghost’s answer eventually, but then things worked out, so yea =)

And I noticed that I’ve posted 5 entries (including this one) since June, with 3 entries (including this one) in July. Might I be posting too much? Haha… there’s like 1 or 2 more entries in the pipeline.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer(s), past or present.