Variable arguments (*args, **kwargs): seeking elegance

[Skip Montanaro]

> What makes Matplotlib so professional?
>
> Assuming that "professional" packages necessarily do the right thing is
> an unsafe assumption. Many packages have *lousy* interfaces.

Not that it's a complete explanation for matplotlib's interfaces, but
it did start out as a Python-based replacement for MATLAB. I seem to
recall that John Hunter started the project because the lab he worked
in as a postdoc only had a single MATLAB license, so it wasn't always
available when he needed it.

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