matplotlib · ivanov · Nov 8, 2012 · Nov 8, 2012 · Nov 10, 2012 · Nov 12, 2012
diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 
 2012-11-09 Make plt.subplot() without arguments act as subplot(111) - PI
 
+2012-11-08 Replaced plt.figure and plt.subplot calls by the newer, more
+           convenient single call to plt.subplots() in the documentation
+           examples - PI
+
 2012-10-05 Add support for saving animations as animated GIFs. - JVDP
 
 2012-08-11 Fix path-closing bug in patches.Polygon, so that regardless

diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new.rst b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ Andrew Dawson added a new keyword argument *extendrect* to
 :meth:`~matplotlib.pyplot.colorbar` to optionally make colorbar
 extensions rectangular instead of triangular.
 
+Examples now use subplots()
+---------------------------
+For the sake of brevity and clarity, most of the :ref:`examples
+<examples-index>` now use the newer :func:`~matplotlib.pyplot.subplots`, which
+creates a figure and one (or multiple) axes object(s) in one call. The old way
+involved a call to :func:`~matplotlib.pyplot.figure`, followed by one (or
+multiple) :func:`~matplotlib.pyplot.subplot` calls.
+
 Calling subplot() without arguments
 -----------------------------------
 A call to :func:`~matplotlib.pyplot.subplot` without any arguments now

diff --git a/examples/animation/animate_decay.py b/examples/animation/animate_decay.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ def data_gen():
         yield t, np.sin(2*np.pi*t) * np.exp(-t/10.)
 data_gen.t = 0
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 line, = ax.plot([], [], lw=2)
 ax.set_ylim(-1.1, 1.1)
 ax.set_xlim(0, 5)

diff --git a/examples/animation/histogram.py b/examples/animation/histogram.py
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@
 import matplotlib.path as path
 import matplotlib.animation as animation
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
 # histogram our data with numpy
 data = np.random.randn(1000)

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animate_decay_tk_blit.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animate_decay_tk_blit.py
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@ def data_gen():
     return np.sin(2*np.pi*t) * np.exp(-t/10.)
 data_gen.t = 0
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 line, = ax.plot([], [], animated=True, lw=2)
 ax.set_ylim(-1.1, 1.1)
 ax.set_xlim(0, 5)

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_fltk.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_fltk.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import fltk
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('FltkAgg')
-import pylab as p
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as npy
 import time
 
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ def update(self,ptr):
             sys.exit()
         return True
 
-ax = p.subplot(111)
-p.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
-p.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
+plt.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
 # create the initial line
 x = npy.arange(0,2*npy.pi,0.01)
-line, = p.plot(x, npy.sin(x), animated=True)
-p.draw()
+line, = plt.plot(x, npy.sin(x), animated=True)
+plt.draw()
 anim=animator(ax)
 
 fltk.Fl.add_idle(anim.update)

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_gtk.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_gtk.py
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 canvas = fig.canvas
 
 fig.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_gtk2.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_gtk2.py
@@ -148,9 +148,8 @@ def update_line(self, *args):
 
 
 plt.rcParams["text.usetex"] = False
-fig = plt.figure()
 
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 ax.xaxis.set_animated(True)
 ax.yaxis.set_animated(True)
 canvas = fig.canvas

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_qt.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_qt.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 
-import os, sys
+import sys
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('QtAgg') # qt3 example
 
@@ -16,21 +16,21 @@
 FALSE = 0
 ITERS = 1000
 
-import pylab as p
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as npy
 import time
 
 class BlitQT(QObject):
     def __init__(self):
         QObject.__init__(self, None, "app")
 
-        self.ax = p.subplot(111)
+        self.ax = plt.subplot()
         self.canvas = self.ax.figure.canvas
         self.cnt = 0
 
         # create the initial line
         self.x = npy.arange(0,2*npy.pi,0.01)
-        self.line, = p.plot(self.x, npy.sin(self.x), animated=True, lw=2)
+        self.line, = plt.plot(self.x, npy.sin(self.x), animated=True, lw=2)
 
         self.background = None
 
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ def timerEvent(self, evt):
         else:
             self.cnt += 1
 
-p.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
-p.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
+plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
+plt.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
 
 app = BlitQT()
 # for profiling
 app.tstart = time.time()
 app.startTimer(0)
 
-p.show()
+plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_tk.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_tk.py
@@ -7,17 +7,17 @@
 matplotlib.use('TkAgg')
 
 import sys
-import pylab as p
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import numpy as npy
 import time
 
-ax = p.subplot(111)
-canvas = ax.figure.canvas
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+canvas = fig.canvas
 
 
 # create the initial line
 x = npy.arange(0,2*npy.pi,0.01)
-line, = p.plot(x, npy.sin(x), animated=True, lw=2)
+line, = plt.plot(x, npy.sin(x), animated=True, lw=2)
 
 def run(*args):
     background = canvas.copy_from_bbox(ax.bbox)
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ def run(*args):
 run.cnt = 0
 
 
-p.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
-p.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
-manager = p.get_current_fig_manager()
+plt.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs
+plt.grid() # to ensure proper background restore
+manager = plt.get_current_fig_manager()
 manager.window.after(100, run)
 
-p.show()
+plt.show()
 
 
 
diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_wx.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/animation_blit_wx.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('WXAgg')
 matplotlib.rcParams['toolbar'] = 'None'
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 import wx
 import sys
@@ -24,8 +25,8 @@
     matplotlib.backends.backend_wxagg._use_accelerator(False)
 
 
-ax = p.subplot(111)
-canvas = ax.figure.canvas
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
+canvas = fig.canvas
 
 
 p.subplots_adjust(left=0.3, bottom=0.3) # check for flipy bugs

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/draggable_legend.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/draggable_legend.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-
-ax = plt.subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 ax.plot([1,2,3], label="test")
 
 l = ax.legend()
 d1 = l.draggable()
 
-xy = 1, 2        
+xy = 1, 2
 txt = ax.annotate("Test", xy, xytext=(-30, 30),
                   textcoords="offset points",
                   bbox=dict(boxstyle="round",fc=(0.2, 1, 1)),

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/gtk_timeout.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/gtk_timeout.py
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 line, = ax.plot(np.random.rand(10))
 ax.set_ylim(0, 1)
 

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/histogram_tkagg.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/histogram_tkagg.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 This example shows how to use a path patch to draw a bunch of
 rectangles for an animated histogram
 """
-import time
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('TkAgg') # do this before importing pylab
@@ -11,8 +10,7 @@
 import matplotlib.patches as patches
 import matplotlib.path as path
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
 # histogram our data with numpy
 data = np.random.randn(1000)

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_anim_gtk.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_anim_gtk.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
 def animate():
     tstart = time.time()                 # for profiling

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_anim_tkagg.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_anim_tkagg.py
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 matplotlib.use('TkAgg') # do this before importing pylab
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
 def animate():
     tstart = time.time()                   # for profiling

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_idle_wx.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_idle_wx.py
@@ -2,16 +2,13 @@
 A simple example of an animated plot using a wx backend
 """
 from __future__ import print_function
-import time
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('WXAgg') # do this before importing pylab
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 t = np.arange(0, 2*np.pi, 0.1)
 line, = ax.plot(t, np.sin(t))
 dt = 0.05

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_timer_wx.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/simple_timer_wx.py
@@ -2,16 +2,13 @@
 """
 A simple example of an animated plot using a wx backend
 """
-import time
 import numpy as np
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('WXAgg') # do this before importing pylab
 
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 t = np.arange(0, 2*np.pi, 0.1)
 line, = ax.plot(t, np.sin(t))
 dt = 0.05

diff --git a/examples/animation/old_animation/strip_chart_demo.py b/examples/animation/old_animation/strip_chart_demo.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import matplotlib
 matplotlib.use('GTKAgg')
 import numpy as np
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
 
 
@@ -62,11 +63,8 @@ def update(self, *args):
         return True
 
 
-from pylab import figure, show
-
-fig = figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 scope = Scope(ax)
 gobject.idle_add(scope.update)
 
-show()
+plt.show()
diff --git a/examples/animation/random_data.py b/examples/animation/random_data.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import matplotlib.animation as animation
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 line, = ax.plot(np.random.rand(10))
 ax.set_ylim(0, 1)
 

diff --git a/examples/animation/simple_anim.py b/examples/animation/simple_anim.py
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 import matplotlib.animation as animation
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 
 x = np.arange(0, 2*np.pi, 0.01)        # x-array
 line, = ax.plot(x, np.sin(x))

diff --git a/examples/animation/strip_chart_demo.py b/examples/animation/strip_chart_demo.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 Emulate an oscilloscope.  Requires the animation API introduced in
 matplotlib 1.0 SVN.
 """
-import matplotlib
 import numpy as np
 from matplotlib.lines import Line2D
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
@@ -44,8 +43,7 @@ def emitter(p=0.03):
         else:
             yield np.random.rand(1)
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 scope = Scope(ax)
 
 # pass a generator in "emitter" to produce data for the update func

diff --git a/examples/api/README.txt b/examples/api/README.txt
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ A simple example of the recommended style is::
     import numpy as np
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-    fig = plt.figure()
-    ax = fig.add_subplot(111) # or add_axes
+    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
     ax.plot(np.random.rand(10))
     ax.set_xlabel('some x data')
     ax.set_ylabel('some y data')

diff --git a/examples/api/barchart_demo.py b/examples/api/barchart_demo.py
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
 ind = np.arange(N)  # the x locations for the groups
 width = 0.35       # the width of the bars
 
-fig = plt.figure()
-ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
+fig, ax = plt.subplots()
 rects1 = ax.bar(ind, menMeans, width, color='r', yerr=menStd)
 
 womenMeans = (25, 32, 34, 20, 25)