Python - How to show graph in Visual Studio Code itself?

Question

When I try to run this example:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib as mpl
import numpy as np

x = np.linspace(0, 20, 100)
plt.plot(x, np.sin(x))
plt.show()

I see the result in a new window.

Is there any way to see the result graphs in the Visual Studio Code itself directly?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Instead of using a Jupyter notebook you can use Visual Studio Code in Interactive mode. It is similar to a notebook in many ways, as it splits your code into cells that can be run individually. One advantage over notebooks is that this remains a normal .py file. Spyder IDE also has this feature.

You can split your code into cells using # %% as in this example. Running code this way, Visual Studio Code opens an Interactive pane that displays the plots inline.

# %%
import matplotlib.pylab as plt
import numpy as np

# %% 
plt.figure()
plt.plot(np.sin(np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi, 1001)))
plt.show()

Answer 2

One way to use plots in Visual Studio Code is with Juypiter notebooks. You need to install the official Microsoft Python plugin ms-python.python.

Once installed, you may open an existing notebook or create one in the command palette with

Shift+Command+P and select Python: Create Blank New Jupyter Notebook

Docs: Create or open a Jupyter Notebook

Visualizing Plots

Pandas example:

import pandas as pd

df = pd.DataFrame([2,5,67,2,3,5,23,124])
df.hist()

To execute, click on the green play icon or Shift+Enter:

From the docs:

The Plot Viewer gives you the ability to work more deeply with your plots. In the viewer you can pan, zoom, and navigate plots in the current session. You can also export plots to PDF, SVG, and PNG formats.

Within the Notebook Editor window, double-click any plot to open it in the viewer, or select the plot viewer button on the upper left corner of the plot (visible on hover).

Read more about using Jupyter in Visual Studio Code

Answer 3

Add this to the top of your code -

import matplotlib.pylab as plt
%matplotlib inline