[IPython-dev] [matplotlib-devel] Uniform GUI support across matplotlib, ets and ipython

[Brian Granger]

On Tue, Aug 31, 2010 at 7:02 AM, Michiel de Hoon <mjldehoon at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 1. Our networking event loop that is based on zeromq/pyzmq
>> 2. A single GUI event loop from wx, qt4, etc.
>>
>> We do this by triggering an iteration of our networking
>> event loop on a periodic GUI timer.
>
> So right now you're in a loop in which you let qt4 (or wx) watch the file descriptors qt4 needs, then zeromq the file descriptors that zeromq needs, and so on?

ZMQ sockets are not really sockets in that they do not have a file
descriptor interface.  That is something that is being worked on in
the zeromq development, but it is not there yet.  Also, I don't think
the API will be fully compatible, so I am not sure how it will play
with what Qt is expecting.

> Just use the qt4 event loop to watch both the file descriptors zeromq wants to watch, in addition to whatever events qt4 needs. Qt4 already has the API that allows you to do this (QSocketNotifier et al.). I am not familiar with zeromq, but if there is a way to determine which file descriptors it wants to watch then you're almost done. If not, you could discuss this with the zeromq developers. Then you won't need to poll, you'll get better response times, and the code will be scalable too.
>
> Best,
> --Michiel.
>
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-- 
Brian E. Granger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physics
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
bgranger at calpoly.edu
ellisonbg at gmail.com