multiprocess.py

#Demo of using multiprocessing for generating data in one process and plotting
#in another.
#Written by Robert Cimrman
#Requires >= Python 2.6 for the multiprocessing module or having the
#standalone processing module installed
import time
try:
    from multiprocessing import Process, Pipe
except ImportError:
    from processing import Process, Pipe
import numpy as np

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('GtkAgg')
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import gobject

class ProcessPlotter(object):

    def __init__(self):
        self.x = []
        self.y = []

    def terminate(self):
        plt.close('all')

    def poll_draw(self):

        def call_back():
            while 1:
                if not self.pipe.poll():
                    break

                command = self.pipe.recv()

                if command is None:
                    self.terminate()
                    return False

                else:
                    self.x.append(command[0])
                    self.y.append(command[1])
                    self.ax.plot(self.x, self.y, 'ro')

            self.fig.canvas.draw()
            return True

        return call_back

    def __call__(self, pipe):
        print 'starting plotter...'

        self.pipe = pipe
        self.fig = plt.figure()

        self.ax = self.fig.add_subplot(111)
        self.gid = gobject.timeout_add(1000, self.poll_draw())

        print '...done'
        plt.show()


class NBPlot(object):
    def __init__(self):
        self.plot_pipe, plotter_pipe = Pipe()
        self.plotter = ProcessPlotter()
        self.plot_process = Process(target = self.plotter,
                                    args = (plotter_pipe,))
        self.plot_process.daemon = True
        self.plot_process.start()

    def plot(self, finished=False):
        send = self.plot_pipe.send
        if finished:
            send(None)
        else:
            data = np.random.random(2)
            send(data)

def main():
    pl = NBPlot()
    for ii in xrange(10):
        pl.plot()
        time.sleep(0.5)
    raw_input('press Enter...')
    pl.plot(finished=True)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()