import matplotlib.pyplot hangs
I'm trying to get matplotlib up and running on OS X 10.8.4. I've installed matplotlib and the dependencies (libping, freetype, numpy, scipy). I am able to import matplotlib just fine. However, if I try to import matplotlib.pyplot, it just hangs. There's no error, it's just that nothing happens.
>>> import matplotlib.pyplot
...I've waited maybe 20 minutes an nothing happens. I'm using version 1.2.1, but even uninstalled that and tried version 1.2.0, but to no avail. I've seen a number of questions on SO about import errors with matplotlib.pyplot, but nothing where it just hangs. I then tried to get it working using the Enthought/Canopy python distribution, but again, the same hanging issue. Here's what I see if I kill the import:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/pyplot.py", line 26, in <module>
from matplotlib.figure import Figure, figaspect
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/figure.py", line 34, in <module>
import matplotlib.colorbar as cbar
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/colorbar.py", line 29, in <module>
import matplotlib.collections as collections
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/collections.py", line 23, in <module>
import matplotlib.backend_bases as backend_bases
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/backend_bases.py", line 37, in <module>
import matplotlib.widgets as widgets
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/widgets.py", line 17, in <module>
from lines import Line2D
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/lines.py", line 25, in <module>
from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 1335, in <module>
_rebuild()
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 1322, in _rebuild
fontManager = FontManager()
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 980, in __init__
self.ttffiles = findSystemFonts(paths) + findSystemFonts()
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 317, in findSystemFonts
for f in get_fontconfig_fonts(fontext):
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 274, in get_fontconfig_fonts
output = pipe.communicate()[0]
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/subprocess.py", line 746, in communicate
stdout = _eintr_retry_call(self.stdout.read)
File "/Applications/Canopy.app/appdata/canopy-1.0.3.1262.macosx-x86_64/Canopy.app/Contents/lib/python2.7/subprocess.py", line 478, in _eintr_retry_call
return func(*args)
KeyboardInterrupt
The output was the same when I was using the default python 2.7 that comes with OS X.
UPDATE
Allowing import matplotlib.pyplot to run for a few hours and then interrupting the import now gives me this output:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/pyplot.py", line 26, in <module>
from matplotlib.figure import Figure, figaspect
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/figure.py", line 34, in <module>
import matplotlib.colorbar as cbar
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/colorbar.py", line 29, in <module>
import matplotlib.collections as collections
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/collections.py", line 23, in <module>
import matplotlib.backend_bases as backend_bases
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/backend_bases.py", line 37, in <module>
import matplotlib.widgets as widgets
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/widgets.py", line 17, in <module>
from lines import Line2D
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/lines.py", line 25, in <module>
from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 1335, in <module>
_rebuild()
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 1322, in _rebuild
fontManager = FontManager()
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 980, in __init__
self.ttffiles = findSystemFonts(paths) + findSystemFonts()
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 324, in findSystemFonts
files = list_fonts(path, fontexts)
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/font_manager.py", line 171, in list_fonts
return cbook.listFiles(directory, pattern)
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/cbook.py", line 944, in listFiles
for dirname, dirs, files in os.walk(root):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 294, in walk
for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/os.py", line 284, in walk
if isdir(join(top, name)):
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/genericpath.py", line 41, in isdir
st = os.stat(s)
KeyboardInterrupt
Does anyone know what the recursive for x in walk(new_path, topdown, onerror, followlinks): might indicate?
Answer
You can fix the problem on Mac OS X Mavericks and Yosemite by doing the following:
cd ~/.matplotlib/
fc-list # Should take a couple minutes.
After fc-list finishes running you will be able to import the package using import matplotlib.pyplot as plt. This is the github issue with the solution. It seems the bug is related to the font cache.