numpy / numpy/numpy

Feature request: change hist bins default to 'auto'

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15 - Discussion 30 - API 54 - Needs decision 62 - Python API
Dominant language
Python
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Description

This is a follow-up on a discussion at matplotlib here:
https://github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib/issues/16403

I think 'auto' would be a better default than 10 for 'bins' for visualization purposes. The matplotlib team is hesitant to have a default value different from the numpy one. So I wanted to ask what you think about a change of default here in numpy.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reading the linked matplotlib discussion at issue 16403 and the surrounding NumPy histogram API documentation. Identify the affected histogram entry points and tests, then confirm the proposed default with maintainers; done requires an agreed behavior and corresponding tests for the new bins default.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
matplotlib, numpy, python
Domain
data-visualization
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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