Support IPython interactive widgets used in Python code
- Dominant language
- Julia
- Stars
- 1.5k
- Forks
- 186
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
If I load something like vispy or Matplotlib's new nbagg backend, which displays in IPython using IPython's interactive-widget API, it would be good to have it work in Julia as well via PyCall ~~and Interact~~.
What I think this would involve:
- Have a new PyInteract package (that requires PyCall, ~~Interact~~, and IJulia).
- `using PyInteract` would `pyimport("IPython.html.widgets")`, and then monkey-patch it to remap some of the low-level function calls:
- Creating a comm object in Python should instead call the corresponding IJulia/Interact routine
- The `on_msg` callback function of that comm object should call back to IPython to handle the message on the Python side.
I don't know the internals of IPython at all, so some advice from @minrk, @fperez, @ellisonbg, and/or @Carreau would be very helpful:
- What is the minimal set of low-level IPython functions to monkey-patch in order to hook up IPython's widget code to the IJulia plumbing?
- Is monkey-patching the right thing here, or is there some better way to install hooks into IPython to change the widget plumbing?
cc: @shashi, @dcjones
Contributor guide
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Research direction
Start by reviewing PyCall, IJulia, Interact, and the IPython.html.widgets API described in the issue. Determine the minimal widget and comm hooks needed, and whether monkey-patching is appropriate. Done means a PyInteract package can make IPython interactive widgets such as vispy or Matplotlib nbagg work through Julia.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- jupyter, python
- Domain
- tooling
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 20/100