In the Python world of graphics and data charting, one of the most popular libraries out there is matplotlib. While the name may sound silly, matplotlib is simply put, a 2D and 3D plotting library that generates production quality, hardcopy graphics and charts. Now, the matplotlib library can be easy to work with early on, but it can get very complex quickly.
Remember back in Chapter 2, Python Refresher, we discussed creating our own graphics, and charts from scratch? Well, matplotlib allows us to not only build charts and graphs, but also draw graphics, widgets, and run animations both in 2D static images and 3D objects created within the framework. Check out the examples on the matplotlib website: http://matplotlib.org/examples/index.html.
Remember back at the start of Chapter 3, Getting Started with pygal, pygal required the installation of lxml? Well, so does matplotlib, but with a different set of libraries, on Linux systems; matplotlib...