Maxima and gnuplot -persist flag



It seems to me that a lisp with a good multiprocessing model
should have no problem starting up a gnuplot (new process for
each plot) so that it is fully functional, and also continuing
with maxima.  Allegro common lisp has

(run-shell-command command :wait t ...)
 RETURNS as a single value the exit status of the spawned
    process which executes command

The other arguments have to do with input/output/error streams, mostly.

RJF



Vadim V. Zhytnikov wrote:

> New maxima plotting routine on Unix platform calls gnuplot
> with -persist flag.  This method has two important consequences.
> First - gnuplot process exits after finishing drawing and control 
> returns to maxima.  This is good.  But there is yet second
> feature.  Unfortunately this persistent plot window has some limited 
> functionality.  In particular it can't rotate 3d plots (it need full 
> gnuplot for redraw).  And this is pity.  On the other hand without 
> -persist gnuplot window is fully functional but Maxima have to wait 
> until it is explicitly closed by user.  It is not possible to have 
> both nice features together without making maxima plotting
> routine significantly more complicated.  Maybe it is good idea
> to make two gnuplot invoking method
>   gnuplot <file> -
> vs
>   gnuplot -persist <file>
> selectable via plotting some extra option?
>