Figures plotting in local display

[nadnerbity]

Bug report

When I ssh -Y into a machine (Computer A) running OS X 10.11 figures are appearing on the display of Computer A, not on my machine (Computer B). I have tried multiple backends: QT4, QT5, Tk, Macosx. If I do not have a VNC connection to Computer A I am told that I cannot access the display (see below).

I can ssh to a red hat box (Computer C) and matplotlib opens figures on my machine (Computer B). Matplotlib functions fine on Computer B (no ssh). I don't think the problem is Computer B. I am suspicious that the topic discussed in the Stack Exchange Q is relevant: OS X doesn't support what I want to do.

Is it possible to have figures from Computer A display on Computer B, if Computer A runs OS X?

Code for reproduction

>>> import matplotlib
>>> matplotlib.use('tkagg')
>>> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
>>> plt.figure(1)

Actual outcome

Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Error>: Set a breakpoint at CGSLogError to catch errors as they are logged.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Error>: This user is not allowed access to the window system right now.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: Invalid Connection ID 0
_RegisterApplication(), FAILED TO establish the default connection to the WindowServer, _CGSDefaultConnection() is NULL.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:47  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
<matplotlib.figure.Figure object at 0x1048bc1d0>
>>> Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
2018-02-23 16:53:48.009 Python[75277:6361567] CFPasteboardRef CFPasteboardCreate(CFAllocatorRef, CFStringRef) : failed to create global data
2018-02-23 16:53:48.009 Python[75277:6361567] CFPasteboardRef CFPasteboardCreate(CFAllocatorRef, CFStringRef) : failed to create global data
2018-02-23 16:53:48.009 Python[75277:6361567] CFPasteboardRef CFPasteboardCreate(CFAllocatorRef, CFStringRef) : failed to create global data
2018-02-23 16:53:48.010 Python[75277:6361567] CFPasteboardRef CFPasteboardCreate(CFAllocatorRef, CFStringRef) : failed to create global data
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:53:48  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Warning>: Invalid Connection ID 0
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Error>: CGSCopySpaces: No connection with id 0x       0
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Warning>: CGSConnectionByID: 0 is not a valid connection ID.
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Warning>: Invalid Connection ID 0
Feb 23 16:54:03  python[75277] <Error>: CGSCopySpaces: No connection with id 0x       0

Expected outcome
A figure on Computer B.

Matplotlib version

• Operating system: OS X 10.11.??
• Matplotlib version: 2.1.2
• Matplotlib backend (print(matplotlib.get_backend())): TkAgg
• Python version: Python 2.7.10 (default, Oct 23 2015, 19:19:21)
• Jupyter version (if applicable): I dunno, I don't use it.
• Other libraries:

This appears to be the system version of python. I did try using macports and homebrew installations and had the same problem.

[jklymak]

This is a better question for stackexchange or mailing list. I’ll close but feel free to reopen if you think this is a matpltolib bug.

[nadnerbity]

I am having trouble figuring out what the problem is because other X11 things, like xeyes, do work. I am totally lost as to how to find the answer to this.

I suppose it isn't a matplotlib problem because if I try to open a PyQt4 window I get the same error:

from PyQt4 import QtGui
app = QtGui.QApplication(sys.argv)
Feb 23 17:19:26  python[75997] <Error>: Set a breakpoint at CGSLogError to catch errors as they are logged.
Feb 23 17:19:26  python[75997] <Error>: This user is not allowed access to the window system right now.

[nadnerbity]

In case someone finds this closed issue, I solved my problem. I posted the answer to stackoverflow.