Ipython and Matplotlib in Ubuntu 13.10

Question

Folks,

I've recently updated my Ubuntu to the 13.10 version. To my surprise, Ipython and Matplotlib are available only in versions prior to those I had in my previous 12.04 LTS install.

When with the 12.04, I had the Julian Taylor PPA set up in my repositories, and that's why (I think) I had most up-to-date versions from both packages.

The versions currently in 13.10 are:

Matplotlib: 1.2.1 (http://matplotlib.org/index.html, most current version is 1.3.1)

Ipython: 0.13.2 (http://ipython.org, most current version is 1.1.0 – September 2013)

Is there any PPA available for the 13.10? The JTaylor ppa covers only as far as 12.10 (Quantal, link not available due to reputation rank in stack exchange)

Should I install those packages outside apt? Isn't that troublesome?

Thank you.

Answer 1

The way to fix it is using pip, as mentioned by @Bogdan.

The way to set up pip is described here: http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/starting/install/linux/#install-linux and it sums up to:

(I think python-distribute comes pre-installed in 13.10, but it doesn't hurt to check)

sudo apt-get install python-distribute

Then we set up the python environment properly:

sudo easy_install pip
sudo pip install virtualenv

After that, do:

sudo pip install ipython[all]

This will let pip take care of the dependencies listed by ipython. At this point, IPython is already working properly.

OPTIONAL, installing matplotlib and numpy:

These take care of the dependencies for matplotlib and numpy (and assuming you already have LaTeX properly installed):

apt-get install libfreetype6-dev libpng-dev libpython-all-dev gcc gfortran dvipdf

partial ref: Error while installing matplotlib

I'm aiming for something like this:

    ============================================================================
Edit setup.cfg to change the build options

BUILDING MATPLOTLIB
            matplotlib: yes [1.3.1]
                python: yes [2.7.5+ (default, Sep 19 2013, 13:49:51)  [GCC
                        4.8.1]]
              platform: yes [linux2]

REQUIRED DEPENDENCIES AND EXTENSIONS
                 numpy: yes [version 1.7.1]
              dateutil: yes [using dateutil version 2.1]
               tornado: yes [using tornado version 3.1.1]
             pyparsing: yes [using pyparsing version 2.0.1]
                 pycxx: yes [Couldn't import.  Using local copy.]
                libagg: yes [pkg-config information for 'libagg' could not
                        be found. Using local copy.]
              freetype: yes [version 16.1.10]
                   png: yes [version 1.2.49]

OPTIONAL SUBPACKAGES
           sample_data: yes [installing]
              toolkits: yes [installing]
                 tests: yes [using nose version 1.3.0]

    OPTIONAL BACKEND EXTENSIONS
                macosx: no  [Mac OS-X only]
                qt4agg: yes [installing, Qt: 4.8.4, PyQt4: 4.10.3]
               gtk3agg: yes [installing, version 3.4.8]
             gtk3cairo: yes [installing, version 3.4.8]
                gtkagg: no  [The C/C++ header for gtk (gtk/gtk.h) could not
                        be found.  You may need to install the development
                        package.]
                 tkagg: no  [The C/C++ header for Tk (tk.h) could not be
                        found.  You may need to install the development
                        package.]
                 wxagg: no  [requires wxPython]
                   gtk: no  [The C/C++ header for gtk (gtk/gtk.h) could not
                        be found.  You may need to install the development
                        package.]
                   agg: yes [installing]
                 cairo: yes [installing, version 1.8.8]
             windowing: no  [Microsoft Windows only]

OPTIONAL LATEX DEPENDENCIES
                dvipng: yes [version 1.14]
           ghostscript: yes [version 9.10]
                 latex: yes [version 3.1415926]
               pdftops: yes [version 0.24.1]

So, if I just missed any dependencies, just comment below ;)

Then, using pip:

sudo pip install matplotlib[all]

It compiles and done. Ipython, numpy and matplotlib ready for science in Ubuntu 13.10.

Answer 2

There are ipython 1.1 debs available at this ppa: https://launchpad.net/~jtaylor/+archive/ipython

Answer 3

Wait everyone, there is a much easier way. You should be able to load everything, Ipython, Matplotlib, Scipy, etc., through Continuum.io's Anaconda installation. Just download the free version and save yourself the trouble of trying to load all of this stuff manually.

Here is the link. https://store.continuum.io/cshop/anaconda/