Create a matplotlib plot from within an ArcGIS python toolbox using tkinter

TestPlotting.pyt

import Tkinter as tk
import matplotlib
from numpy import arange, sin, pi
from matplotlib.backends.backend_tkagg import FigureCanvasTkAgg
from matplotlib.figure import Figure


class Toolbox(object):
    def __init__(self):
        self.label = "test plotting dev"
        self.alias = "TestPlot_dev"
        self.tools = [TestPlotting]


class TestPlotting(object):
    """Just an example tool to check how to plot in your own window"""
    def __init__(self):
        """Define the tool properties"""
        self.label = "Can we plot in ArcGIS?"
        self.description = "Simple matplotlib plotting test."
        self.canRunInBackground = True

        return

    def getParameterInfo(self):
        """Define parameter definitions"""
        params = None

        return params

    def isLicensed(self):
        """Set whether tool is licensed to execute."""

        return True

    def updateParameters(self, parameters):
        """Modify the values and properties of parameters before internal
        validation is performed.  This method is called whenever a parameter
        has been changed."""

        return

    def updateMessages(self, parameters):
        """Modify the messages created by internal validation for each tool
        parameter.  This method is called after internal validation."""

        return

    def execute(self, parameters, messages):
        """Evaluate the top 0-100 percentile total variation"""
        # Configure matplotlib to use tkinter
        matplotlib.use("TkAgg")

        # Prepare tkinter
        self.root = tk.Tk()
        self.root.title("Plot test")
        self.root.protocol("WM_DELETE_WINDOW", self._quit)  # Call root.quit when the window is closed

        # Prepare the figure and the plot
        f = Figure(figsize=(5, 4), dpi=100)
        a = f.add_subplot(1, 1, 1)
        t = arange(0.0, 3.0, 0.01)
        s = sin(2 * pi * t)
        a.plot(t, s)

        # Prepare the canvas in matplotlib (fill the entire space)
        canvas = FigureCanvasTkAgg(f, self.root)
        canvas.show()
        canvas.get_tk_widget().pack(side=tk.TOP, fill=tk.BOTH, expand=1)

        # Call tkinter mainloop
        self.root.mainloop()

        return

    def _quit(self):
        """Clearing up once the plot window is closed"""
        self.root.quit()
        self.root.destroy()