In examples/widgets, the cursor, lasso_selector, multicursor, rectangle_selector, and span_selector all fail with macosx backend because of unimplemented features including, but perhaps not limited to, FigureCanvasMac.copy_from_bbox().
As a first step in keeping track of macosx anomalies, it would be nice to have all known limitations described in the module docstring.
It would probably also make sense to add the copy_from_bbox method, having it raise an UnimplementedError with a useful message to let the user know that this is a known limitation.
A note in the overall mpl docs would also be helpful.
This overlaps with #531, which is directed towards animation, but also points out the lack of blit support. The cursor-type widgets don't actually require blitting, but they need to be told whether to blit or not. This info should come from the backend, with a "can_blit" attribute, or something like that.
Instead of an explicit can_blit attribute, how about putting the copy_from_bbox in a try: block, and using the AttributeError as an indication that the backend cannot blit?
It would not be hard to add blit support to the Mac OS X backend, but that should be done as part of issue #531.
Activity
efiring commented on Sep 29, 2012
This overlaps with #531, which is directed towards animation, but also points out the lack of blit support. The cursor-type widgets don't actually require blitting, but they need to be told whether to blit or not. This info should come from the backend, with a "can_blit" attribute, or something like that.
WeatherGod commented on Sep 30, 2012
+1 on the "can_blit" attribute.
mdehoon commented on Mar 26, 2013
Instead of an explicit can_blit attribute, how about putting the copy_from_bbox in a try: block, and using the AttributeError as an indication that the backend cannot blit?
It would not be hard to add blit support to the Mac OS X backend, but that should be done as part of issue #531.
mdboom commented on Mar 21, 2016
Fixed by #6178