Python ASCII plots in terminal

Question

With Octave I am able to plot arrays to the terminal, for example, plotting an array with values for the function x^2 gives this output in my terminal:

Answer 1

Another alternative is the drawilleplot package. https://github.com/gooofy/drawilleplot

pip3 install drawilleplot

I find this to be a really nice method, as you only need to change the Matplotlib backend to enable it.

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('module://drawilleplot')

After that, can use Matplotlib just as you normally would.

Here is an examply from the package README (note the plots look better than what is pasted here.)

def f(t):
    return np.exp(-t) * np.cos(2*np.pi*t)

t1 = np.arange(0.0, 5.0, 0.1)
t2 = np.arange(0.0, 5.0, 0.02)

plt.figure()
plt.subplot(211)
plt.plot(t1, f(t1), 'bo', t2, f(t2), 'k')

plt.subplot(212)
plt.plot(t2, np.cos(2*np.pi*t2), 'r--')
plt.show()

plt.close()

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡖⠖⠲⢖⣶⠲⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠲⠲⡄
⠀⠀⠀1.0⠀⠀⠉⡇⠀⠀⠘⢿⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⢾⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠤⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀0.5⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣴⣶⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⠿⠋⠉⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣤⣶⣤⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⠛⠉⠉⠛⢻⣶⣆⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣴⣴⣶⣶⣷⣶⣦⣤⣄⣄⣀⡀⣀⠀⣀⣀⣄⣤⣤⣶⣤⣦⣤⣤⣤⣄⣤⣀⣀⣠⣀⣀⣠⣄⣤⣤⣤⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀0.0⠀⠀⠈⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣶⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠹⠿⣷⣶⣶⣶⣿⡿⠿⠉⠁⠉⠀⠀⠈⠉⠛⠙⠟⠻⠿⠿⠟⠿⠛⠟⠙⠋⠉⠉⠋⠙⠋⠛⠙⠛⠻⠟⠻⠛⠿⠛⠛⠛⠋⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢺⡿⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⣷⣦⣤⣼⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠁⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⢿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡇⠀⠀⢀⣼⡁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
−0.5⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣽⣦⠀⣸⠛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⠷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠋⠟⠙⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠛⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠟⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠟⠙⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠙⠏⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠟⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠙⠙⠏⠋⠉⠉⠁

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀0⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀1⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀2⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀3⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀4⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀5
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡖⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⡒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⡒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⠒⡆
⠀⠀⠀1.0⠀⠀⠉⡇⠀⠀⠀⠙⢂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠌⠉⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠊⠘⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠆⠙⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠋⠑⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡌⠀⠀⠠⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡚⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡖⠀⠀⠈⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡌⠀⠀⠰⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠁⠀⠀⠀⢤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⠃⠀⠀⠀⠳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠀⠀⠀⠀⢡⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢈⠁⠀⠀⠀⢦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠤⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡖⠀⠀⠀⠀⢈⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀0.5⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢐⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢈⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣬⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠾⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀0.0⠀⠀⠘⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢨⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⡂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠨⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢘⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠐⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢨⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢙⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
−0.5⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠃⠀⠀⠀⢀⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠇⠀⠀⠀⢀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⡃⠀⠀⠀⢀⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡆⠀⠀⠀⠠⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠀⠀⠀⣨⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢩⡀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠀⠀⠀⣴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢙⠀⠀⠀⡘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠀⠀⠀⠴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢃⠀⢠⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢥⠀⠰⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠧⠀⢠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢃⠀⣀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢦⠀⠰⠂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇
−1.0⠀⠀⠀⠀⠲⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠓⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠐⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠓⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠁⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠚⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡇
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠉⠋⠉⠉⠉

Plots look really nice in a terminal about 100 characters wide

Answer 2

You can also try Sympy's TextBackend for plots, see doc. Or just use textplot.

Here it is an example

from sympy import symbols
from sympy.plotting import textplot
x = symbols('x')
textplot(x**2,0,5)

with the output

24.0992 |                                                      / 
        |                                                    ..  
        |                                                   /    
        |                                                 ..     
        |                                               ..       
        |                                              /         
        |                                            ..          
        |                                          ..            
12.0496 | ---------------------------------------..--------------
        |                                     ...                
        |                                   ..                   
        |                                 ..                     
        |                              ...                       
        |                           ...                          
        |                        ...                             
        |                   .....                                
        |              .....                                     
      0 | .............                                          
          0                      2.5                        5    

Answer 3

As few answers already suggested the gnuplot is a great choice.

However, there is no need to call a gnuplot subprocess, it might be much easier to use a python gnuplotlib library.

Example (from: https://github.com/dkogan/gnuplotlib):

>>> import numpy as np
>>> import gnuplotlib as gp

>>> x = np.linspace(-5,5,100)

>>> gp.plot( x, np.sin(x) )
[ graphical plot pops up showing a simple sinusoid ]


>>> gp.plot( (x, np.sin(x), {'with': 'boxes'}),
...          (x, np.cos(x), {'legend': 'cosine'}),

...          _with    = 'lines',
...          terminal = 'dumb 80,40',
...          unset    = 'grid')

[ ascii plot printed on STDOUT]
   1 +-+---------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+-+
     +     +|||+ +          +         +++++   +++|||+          +           +
     |     |||||+                    +     +  +||||||       cosine +-----+ |
 0.8 +-+   ||||||                    +     + ++||||||+                   +-+
     |     ||||||+                  +       ++||||||||+                    |
     |     |||||||                  +       ++|||||||||                    |
     |     |||||||+                +        |||||||||||                    |
 0.6 +-+   ||||||||               +         +||||||||||+                 +-+
     |     ||||||||+              |        ++|||||||||||                   |
     |     |||||||||              +        |||||||||||||                   |
 0.4 +-+   |||||||||              |       ++||||||||||||+                +-+
     |     |||||||||             +        +||||||||||||||                  |
     |     |||||||||+            +        |||||||||||||||                  |
     |     ||||||||||+           |       ++||||||||||||||+           +     |
 0.2 +-+   |||||||||||          +        |||||||||||||||||           +   +-+
     |     |||||||||||          |        +||||||||||||||||+          |     |
     |     |||||||||||         +         ||||||||||||||||||         +      |
   0 +-+   +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   +-+
     |       +        ||||||||||||||||||+         |       ++||||||||||     |
     |       |        +|||||||||||||||||          +        |||||||||||     |
     |       +        ++||||||||||||||||          |        +||||||||||     |
-0.2 +-+      +        |||||||||||||||||          +        |||||||||||   +-+
     |        |        ++||||||||||||||+           |       ++|||||||||     |
     |        +         |||||||||||||||            +        ++||||||||     |
     |         |        +||||||||||||||            +         |||||||||     |
-0.4 +-+       +        ++||||||||||||+             |        +||||||||   +-+
     |          +        |||||||||||||              +        |||||||||     |
     |          |        +|||||||||||+               +       ++|||||||     |
-0.6 +-+        +        ++||||||||||                |        +|||||||   +-+
     |           +        |||||||||||                +        ++||||||     |
     |           +        +|||||||||+                 +        |||||||     |
     |            +       ++||||||||                  +       +++|||||     |
-0.8 +-+          +      + ++||||||+                   +      + +|||||   +-+
     |             +    +   +||||||                     +    +  ++||||     |
     +           +  +  ++   ++|||++     +           +   ++  +  + ++|||     +
  -1 +-+---------+----------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+-+
    -6          -4         -2           0           2          4           6

Answer 4

If you’re constrained to matplotlib, the answer is currently no. Currently, matplotlib has many backends, but ASCII is not one of them.

Answer 5

If you just need a quick overview and your x-axis is equally spaced, you could also just make some quick ascii output yourself.

In [1]: y = [20, 26, 32, 37, 39, 40, 38, 35, 30, 23, 17, 10,  5,  2,  0,  1,  3,
   ....:         8, 14, 20]

In [2]: [' '*(d-1) + '*' for d in y]
Out[2]: 
['                   *',
 '                         *',
 '                               *',
 '                                    *',
 '                                      *',
 '                                       *',
 '                                     *',
 '                                  *',
 '                             *',
 '                      *',
 '                *',
 '         *',
 '    *',
 ' *',
 '*',
 '*',
 '  *',
 '       *',
 '             *',
 '                   *']

If your y-data are not integers, offset and scale them so they are in a range that works. For example, the above numbers are basically ( sin(x)+1 )*20.

Answer 6

I just released termplotlib which should hopefully make your life a lot easier here. For line plots, you need to install gnuplot and termplotlib,

pip install termplotlib

After this, line plots are generated with just

import termplotlib as tpl
import numpy

x = numpy.linspace(0, 2 * numpy.pi, 10)
y = numpy.sin(x)

fig = tpl.figure()
fig.plot(x, y, label="data", width=50, height=15)
fig.show()

    1 +---------------------------------------+
  0.8 |    **     **                          |
  0.6 |   *         **           data ******* |
  0.4 | **                                    |
  0.2 |*              **                      |
    0 |                 **                    |
      |                                   *   |
 -0.2 |                   **            **    |
 -0.4 |                     **         *      |
 -0.6 |                              **       |
 -0.8 |                       **** **         |
   -1 +---------------------------------------+
      0     1    2     3     4     5    6     7