Matplotlib Python is not installed as a framework...

[xanderdunn]

The full error I get at runtime:

ERROR: LoadError: LoadError: LoadError: PyError (:PyObject_Call) <type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>
RuntimeError("Python is not installed as a framework. The Mac OS X backend will not be able to function correctly if Python is not installed as a framework. See the Python documentation for more information on installing Python as a framework on Mac OS X. Please either reinstall Python as a framework, or try one of the other backends. If you are Working with Matplotlib in a virtual enviroment see 'Working with Matplotlib in Virtual environments' in the Matplotlib FAQ",)

I'm on Mac OSX 10.11. I've tried a number of things:

I've installed python with brew install python --framework

I've tried env PYTHON_CONFIGURE_OPTS="--enable-framework" pyenv install 2.7.10

I've tried creating the script shown at the bottom of this Matplotlib FAQ page and then setting it:

ENV["PYTHON"] = "/path/to/frameworkpython"
Pkg.build("PyCall")

After each of these, I made sure the Python I had just installed/configured was selected and I ran rm(Pkg.dir("PyCall","deps","PYTHON")); Pkg.build("PyCall"). I always get the same error.

No matter what I try, I'm unable to import a local Python file that imports matplotlib.

Note that I'm not calling @pyimport matplotlib in a Julia file, I'm importing an existing Python file that has its own import matplotlib as plt statement. I'm loading the local file with this function:

function loadlocalpython(path::AbstractString)
    println("Loading Python module $path")
    @pyimport imp
    (path, name) = dirname(path), basename(path)
    (name, ext) = rsplit(name, '.', limit=2)

    (file, path, data) = imp.find_module(name, [path])
    convnet = imp.load_module(name, file, path, data)
end

Running the same python file from the command line python myfile.py, of course works fine.

[stevengj]

@randy3k, you wrote the initial note about framework installs in #122, do you have any ideas?

@xanderdunn, in the meantime you could just use the Anaconda matplotlib via the Conda.jl package, via (in a fresh Julia session):

ENV["PYTHON"]=""
Pkg.build("PyCall")
using PyPlot

which will download and install the Anaconda Matplotlib in a private Julia directory.

[randy3k]

I don't have any idea.
@xanderdunn Do @pyimport matplotlib or using PyPlot work at the first place?

[xanderdunn]

Thanks to both of you for looking at this. Yes, using PyPlot works fine and @pyimort matplotlib works fine.

I noticed that the error messages being spit out were always referencing the same matplotlib.py file on disk, regardless of which Python installation PyCall was using. I figured out this is because I had the system's pip package directory in my PYTHONPATH! 😫 So, regardless of the Python being used, it always found that matplotlib installation first. With that all cleared out of my PYTHONPATH, the Conda.jl method that @stevengj mentioned above works.

On first try, system Python and Pyenv were still giving the same error, but I need to methodically step through them again.

[xanderdunn]

Yeah, I still get the error:

ERROR: LoadError: LoadError: LoadError: PyError (:PyObject_Call) <type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>
RuntimeError("Python is not installed as a framework. The Mac OS X backend will not be able to function correctly if Python is not installed as a framework. See the Python documentation for more information on installing Python as a framework on Mac OS X. Please either reinstall Python as a framework, or try one of the other backends. If you are Working with Matplotlib in a virtual enviroment see 'Working with Matplotlib in Virtual environments' in the Matplotlib FAQ",)
  File "/path/to/my/file.py", line 18, in <module>
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  File "/Users/admin/.pyenv/versions/2.7.10/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/pyplot.py", line 114, in <module>
    _backend_mod, new_figure_manager, draw_if_interactive, _show = pylab_setup()
  File "/Users/admin/.pyenv/versions/2.7.10/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/backends/__init__.py", line 32, in pylab_setup
    globals(),locals(),[backend_name],0)
  File "/Users/admin/.pyenv/versions/2.7.10/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py", line 24, in <module>
    from matplotlib.backends import _macosx

It's correctly referring to the matplotlib installed via the pyenv 2.7.10's pip.

I uninstalled the pyenv's 2.7.10 installation and reinstalled it with env PYTHON_CONFIGURE_OPTS="--enable-framework" pyenv install 2.7.10 for this.

Same with uninstalling brew's python 2 and reinstalling it with --framework.

[randy3k]

I have tested your code with pyenv 2.7.6, 2.7.10 and 3.4.3. They all work fine.

julia> loadlocalpython("test.py")
Loading Python module test.py
PyObject <module 'test' from 'test.pc'>

with test.py containing only one line import matplotlib.

[randy3k]

Wait, I can actually reproduce the error if test.py is

import matplotlib.pyplot

In fact, the error should be reproduced in Julia by running

@pyimport matplotlib.pyplot as plt

I found a solution. It is because python within Julia fails to find a backend. The following will fix it:

echo "backend: TkAgg" >> ~/.matplotlib/matplotlibrc

[xanderdunn]

@randy3k Oh, wow! Thank you so much! This solved it!

[randy3k]

I guess PyPlot also sets the backend automatically.

using PyCall
using PyPlot
loadlocalpython("test.py")

[stevengj]

PyPlot is a bit smarter about picking a backend than if you do a raw @pyimport matplotlib.pyplot as plt. I general, I would always recommend using PyPlot over directly importing pyplot.

[aysebilgegunduz]

Problem Cause In mac os image rendering back end of matplotlib (what-is-a-backend to render using the API of Cocoa by default). Set the back end of macosx that is differ compare with other windows or linux os.

I resolve this issue following ways:

• I assume you have installed the pip matplotlib, there is a directory in you root called ~/.matplotlib.

• Create a file ~/.matplotlib/matplotlibrc there and add the following code: backend: TkAgg

[ghost]

@randy3k Thank you !

[maragh]

@aysebilgegunduz Thank you!

[Gailbobo]

@aysebilgegunduz super helpful. Totally made my day!

[marcunzueta]

@randy3k Yeah! Worked for me too! Thank you ;)

[JonathanLehner]

it works, but would be nice to know why it works

[AaronWWK]

What is that file? Use TextEdit to crate a new file? And just add the line to the file?

[mucahitdemir]

Problem Cause In mac os image rendering back end of matplotlib (what-is-a-backend to render using the API of Cocoa by default). Set the back end of macosx that is differ compare with other windows or linux os.

I resolve this issue following ways:

• I assume you have installed the pip matplotlib, there is a directory in you root called ~/.matplotlib.
• Create a file ~/.matplotlib/matplotlibrc there and add the following code: backend: TkAgg

Hey! I could not solve my problem with this issue? Could you make it more explicit?
Best