Metadata-Version: 2.1
Name: octave-kernel
Version: 0.30.2
Summary: A Jupyter kernel for Octave.
Home-page: http://github.com/Calysto/octave_kernel
Maintainer: Steven Silvester
Maintainer-email: steven.silvester@ieee.org
License: BSD
Download-URL: http://github.com/Calysto/octave_kernel
Platform: Any
Classifier: Intended Audience :: Science/Research
Classifier: License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License
Classifier: Operating System :: OS Independent
Classifier: Programming Language :: Python
Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7
Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3
Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4
Classifier: Topic :: Scientific/Engineering
Classifier: Topic :: Software Development
Classifier: Topic :: System :: Shells
Requires: metakernel (>=0.22.1)
Requires: jupyter_client (>=4.3.0)
Requires: ipykernel
Requires-Dist: metakernel (>=0.22.1)
Requires-Dist: jupyter-client (>=4.3.0)
Requires-Dist: ipykernel

An Octave kernel for Jupyter
============================

Prerequisites
-------------
`Jupyter Notebook <http://jupyter.readthedocs.org/en/latest/install.html>`_ and GNU Octave_.

It is recommended to also install ``gnuplot`` for Octave to enable inline plotting.

Installation
------------
To install using pip::

    pip install octave_kernel

Add ``--user`` to install in the user-level environment instead of the system environment.

To install using conda::

    conda config --add channels conda-forge
    conda install octave_kernel
    conda install texinfo # For the inline documentation (shift-tab) to appear.

We require the ``octave-cli`` executable to run the kernel.
Add that executable's directory to the ``PATH`` environment variable or use the
``OCTAVE_EXECUTABLE`` to point to the executable itself.
Note that on Octave 5 on Windows, the executable is in ``"Octave-5.x.x.x\mingw64\bin"``.

We automatically install a Jupyter kernelspec when installing the
python package.  This location can be found using ``jupyter kernelspec list``.
If the default location is not desired, remove the directory for the
``octave`` kernel, and install using ``python -m octave_kernel install``.  See
``python -m octave_kernel install --help`` for available options.

Usage
-----
To use the kernel, run one of:

.. code:: shell

    jupyter notebook  # or ``jupyter lab``, if available
    # In the notebook interface, select Octave from the 'New' menu
    jupyter qtconsole --kernel octave
    jupyter console --kernel octave

This kernel is based on `MetaKernel <http://pypi.python.org/pypi/metakernel>`_,
which means it features a standard set of magics (such as ``%%html``).  For a full list of magics,
run ``%lsmagic`` in a cell.

A sample notebook is available online_.


Configuration
-------------
The kernel can be configured by adding an ``octave_kernel_config.py`` file to the
``jupyter`` config path.  The ``OctaveKernel`` class offers ``plot_settings``, ``inline_toolkit``,
 ``kernel_json``, and ``cli_options`` as configurable traits.  The available plot settings are:
'format', 'backend', 'width', 'height', and 'resolution'.

.. code:: bash
    cat ~/.jupyter/octave_kernel_config.py
    # use Qt as the default backend for plots
    c.OctaveKernel.plot_settings = dict(backend='qt')


The path to the Octave kernel JSON file can also be specified by creating an
``OCTAVE_KERNEL_JSON`` environment variable.

The command line options to Octave can also be specified with an
``OCTAVE_CLI_OPTIONS`` environment variable.  The cli options be appended to the
default opions of  ``--interactive --quiet --no-init-file``.  Note that the
init file is explicitly called after the kernel has set ``more off`` to prevent
a lockup when the pager is invoked in ``~/.octaverc``.

The inline toolkit is the ``graphics_toolkit`` used to generate plots for the inline
backend.  It defaults to ``gnuplot``.  The different backend can be used for inline
plotting either by using this configuration or by using the plot magic and putting the backend name after ``inline:``, e.g. ``plot -b inline:fltk``.


Troubleshooting
---------------

Kernel Times Out While Starting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the kernel does not start, run the following command from a terminal:

.. code:: shell

    python -m octave_kernel.check

This can help diagnose problems with setting up integration with Octave.  If in doubt,
create an issue with the output of that command.


Kernel is Not Listed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the kernel is not listed as an available kernel, first try the following command:

.. code:: shell

    python -m octave_kernel install --user

If the kernel is still not listed, verify that the following point to the same
version of python:

.. code:: shell

    which python  # use "where" if using cmd.exe
    which jupyter


Gnuplot Error
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An error that starts with ``gnuplot> set terminal aqua enhanced title`` can be fixed by
adding ``setenv("GNUTERM","qt");`` to ``~/.octaverc`` on MacOS or by installing
``gunplot-x11`` and using ``setenv("GNUTERM", "X11")``.


Blank Plot
~~~~~~~~~~
Specify a different format using the ``%plot -f <backend>`` magic or using a configuration setting.
On some systems, the default ``'png'`` produces a black plot.  On other systems ``'svg'`` produces a
black plot.


.. _Octave: https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/download.html
.. _online: http://nbviewer.ipython.org/github/Calysto/octave_kernel/blob/master/octave_kernel.ipynb


