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Python Introduction to Data Visualization with Matplotlib Getting Started with Data Visualization Getting Started with Charting

Why does matplotlib import look different here?

Could you explain in more detail what "!{sys.executable} -m ..." does and why we chose to use this way of importing matlpotlib?

3 Answers

Ben Jakuben
STAFF
Ben Jakuben
Treehouse Teacher

For anyone who comes across this post, we added new instructions in the Teacher's Notes to enable proper installation of matplotlib:

import sys
!{sys.executable} -m pip install --upgrade pip
!{sys.executable} -m pip install msgpack
!{sys.executable} -m pip install matplotlib
%matplotlib inline
Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hey there,

That line doesn't import the package. It installs the package. This is how to use pip to install python packages in a Jupyter Notebook.

Why we do this... I actually don't have an answer for that, as in a later course Introduction to NumPy, we use a simple import statement only. Maybe Ken Alger could provide the why?

Tagging Craig Dennis too! :)

:) :dizzy:

Jason Anders: It is likely demonstrated this way for people who might not already have matplotlib installed, and may need to install it (without leaving jupyter notebook).