python-visualization / python-visualization/branca
Should LinearColormap.to_step(n=1) create a one-step colormap?
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Description
LinearColormap(...).to_step(n=1) raises a ZeroDivisionError.
In map/choropleth workflows, after filtering or classification, there may be only one bucket/class to display, and a one-step colormap seems semantically reasonable.
Currently, we get:
❯ uv run --with branca python
Python 3.12.3 (main, Mar 23 2026, 19:04:32) [GCC 13.3.0] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import branca
>>> from branca.colormap import LinearColormap
>>> print(branca.__version__)
0.8.2
>>>
>>> cm = LinearColormap(["red", "blue"], vmin=0, vmax=1)
>>> cm.to_step(n=1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File ".../branca/colormap.py", line 450, in to_step
index[i] * (1.0 - i / (n - 1.0)) + index[i + 1] * i / (n - 1.0),
~~^~~~~~~~~~~
ZeroDivisionError: float division by zero
The API says n is the expected number of colors in the output StepColormap. When no index/data is supplied it constructs a regular grid from n; later, it computes colors using n - 1.0, which fails at n=1.
Possibilities:
- Could
to_step(n=1)to return aStepColormapwith one color/bin? - Or should
n <= 1be explicitly rejected with a clearValueError? - Or a mention in the docs stating that callers need to special-case single-class data?
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Research direction
Start in branca/colormap.py around LinearColormap.to_step, where the n - 1.0 calculation raises for n=1, and reproduce the failure from the issue. Determine the intended single-step behavior from the existing API and surrounding tests; done means the chosen behavior is implemented, clearly specified, and covered by a regression test.
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Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- data-visualization
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 58/100