On Linux you can detach the display this way:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
import numpy as np
import os
def detach_display():
mu, sigma = 0, 0.5
x = np.linspace(-3, 3, 100)
plt.plot(x, mlab.normpdf(x, mu, sigma))
plt.show()
if os.fork():
# Parent
pass
else:
# Child
detach_display()
The main process ends, but the plot remains.
Attempt #2. This also works on Linux; you might give it a try: but not on OS X.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
import numpy as np
import os
import multiprocessing as mp
def detach_display():
mu, sigma = 0, 0.5
x = np.linspace(-3, 3, 100)
plt.plot(x, mlab.normpdf(x, mu, sigma))
plt.show()
proc = mp.Process(target=detach_display)
proc.start()
os._exit(0)
Without the os._exit(0), the main process blocks. Pressing Ctrl-C kills the main process, but the plot remains.
With the os._exit(0), the main process ends, but the plot remains.
Sigh. Attempt #3. If you place your matplotlib calls in another script, then you could use subprocess like this:
show.py:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
import sys
filename = sys.argv[1]
data = np.load(filename)
plt.plot(data['x'], data['y'])
plt.show()
test.py
import subprocess
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.mlab as mlab
mu, sigma = 0, 0.5
x = np.linspace(-3, 3, 100000)
y = mlab.normpdf(x, mu, sigma)
filename = '/tmp/data.npz'
np.savez(filename, x=x, y=y)
proc = subprocess.Popen(['python', '/path/to/show.py', filename])
Running test.py should display a plot and return control to the terminal while leaving the plot displayed.
