A quick class for binding keys to step through an iterable in matplotlib

push_to_advance.py

class push_to_advance(object):
    def __init__(self):
        self.fig = plt.figure()
        self.ax = self.fig.gca()
        self.bound_keys = []
        self.bound_cid = {}

    def add_step_through(self, gen, key):
        key = key[0] # make a single char
        if key in self.bound_keys:
            raise RuntimeError("key %s already bound"%key)
        first_data = gen.next()
        self.ax.plot(first_data)
        self.fig.canvas.draw()
        self.bound_keys.append(key)
        def ontype(event):
            if event.key == key:
                try:
                    self.ax.plot(gen.next())
                    self.fig.canvas.draw()
                except StopIteration:
                    self.fig.canvas.mpl_disconnect(self.bound_cid[key])
                    del self.bound_cid[key]
                    self.bound_keys.remove(key)

        self.bound_cid[key] = self.fig.canvas.mpl_connect('key_press_event', ontype))