On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 1:10 AM, Robert Kern <rob...@gm...> wrote: > On 9/14/10 8:01 PM, Benjamin Root wrote: > > On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:39 AM, Fernando Perez <fperez.net > > <http://fperez.net>@gmail.com <http://gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > On Tue, Sep 14, 2010 at 12:57 PM, Benjamin Root <ben...@ou... > > <mailto:ben...@ou...>> wrote: > > > > > > Why not have an examples module that contains function calls to > each > > > example? On the website, we can show the source code, but also > say that one > > > could just do: > > > > > >>>> import matplotlib.examples as ex > > >>>> ex.bars3d_demo() > > > > The idea is to have the *actual code* pasted in your terminal, > because > > now we can easily edit complex multi-line examples directly in > > ipython. So it's not just a matter of seeing the figure results, but > > mostly of having the actual source in your input buffer to play with. > > > > Cheers, > > > > f > > > > > > True... but, consider this. ipython can already display the code for a > > particular module/function using the '??' idiom. Why not have some way > to take > > that text and bring it into the input buffer? > > Regardless of whether or not this is a good idea, it doesn't replace the > functionality Fernando is requesting. People *will* be looking at the > matplotlib > docs on the web and copy-pasting the examples. Placing a link that they can > click to easily, robustly, and *obviously* copy the code for pasting into > the > shell (or anywhere else!) is better than telling them to go type some magic > commands they've probably never seen before. Magic commands that they will > probably want to copy-paste. And so the cycle is complete. > > Good point. I guess I am just a little *too* terminal-oriented. I tend to access the examples directly and have to copy-and-paste snippets of code, which has many issues with indentation and empty lines. Just the new input buffer of ipython is a significant enough feature to stand on its own and be beneficial. How we get text to it can be done in many different ways. Ben Root