How to install Python Matplotlib 1.5.1 on Ubuntu?

Question

I want to install matplotlib 1.5.1 for python 3.4 on Ubuntu 14.04.

But, when I type in the terminal sudo apt-get install python3-matplotlib, I just get matplotlib 1.3.1.

I have tried to use pip to install matplotlib, but I got some errors that weren't easy to solve.

Is there an easy way to install matplotlib 1.5.1 on Ubuntu?

Solution

You could be just 4 terminal commands away from an easy installation, depending on the state of your system.

First, there is always risk breaking from the herd. My 15.10 system only has python-matplotlib 1.4.1something or other.

You could download the source

Once you have satisfied the requirements detailed in the INSTALL file (mainly python, numpy, libpng and freetype), you can build matplotlib.

1. sudo apt-get build-dep python-matplotlib to install all dependecies required to build matplotlib

2. cd ~/Downloads/matplotlib because that is where you unpacked the archive

3. python3 setup.py build

4. sudo python3 setup.py install

The instructions use default interpreter, I used python3 and mine built/installed without a hitch, your success will depend on the state of your system. Read the error logs. They will tell you what went wrong. Generally involving sudo apt-get install <lib[some]-dev>, or pre-emptively,

Comments

[goo]

Rather than guessing what you think the package name should be, apt-cache search python3 | grep -i matplot