[Python-modules-team] Bug#622082: python-matplotlib: Instruction not allowed (sse2?)

[Pierre LeSimple]

Package: python-matplotlib
Version: 0.99.3
Severity: important



With the standard Squeeze install (python 2.6, matplotlib 0.99.3),
attempts to import any part of matplotlib causes Python to crash. e.g.

>>>from matplotlib.pylab import *
Instruction not permitted
$

Same for help() calls to matplotlib (eg >modules plot).

Reproducible on 2 machines: a dual PIII 800MHz with a pristine Squeeze
install (386 kernel, "Stable" all the way, Python 2.6, matplotlib 0.99.3)
and the machine detailed below (dual PIII 1GHz).

So I suspect the use of a newer set of instruction (sse2)?

Present -but not documented- in the upstream matplotlib release 
(verified on home builds from source, all versions 0.99 and above).

That should at the very least be documented since downgading to
0.98 is non-trivial (and not an option with apt-get -not 
if you have Python 2.6 installed).


-- System Information:
Debian Release: wheezy/sid
  APT prefers proposed-updates
  APT policy: (500, 'proposed-updates'), (500, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing')
Architecture: i386 (i686)

Kernel: Linux 2.6.32-5-686 (SMP w/2 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=fr_CA, LC_CTYPE=fr_CA (charmap=ISO-8859-1)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash

Versions of packages python-matplotlib depends on:
ii  libatk1.0-0           1.30.0-1           The ATK accessibility toolkit
ii  libc6                 2.11.2-11          Embedded GNU C Library: Shared lib
ii  libcairo2             1.8.10-6           The Cairo 2D vector graphics libra
ii  libfontconfig1        2.8.0-2.1          generic font configuration library
ii  libfreetype6          2.4.4-1            FreeType 2 font engine, shared lib
ii  libgcc1               1:4.4.4-1          GCC support library
ii  libglib2.0-0          2.28.1-1+b1        The GLib library of C routines
ii  libgtk2.0-0           2.20.1-2           The GTK+ graphical user interface 
ii  libpango1.0-0         1.24.0-3+b1        Layout and rendering of internatio
ii  libpng12-0            1.2.44-1           PNG library - runtime
ii  libstdc++6            4.5.2-4            The GNU Standard C++ Library v3
ii  python                2.6.6-12           interactive high-level object-orie
ii  python-cairo          1.8.8-1+b1         Python bindings for the Cairo vect
ii  python-dateutil       1.4.1-3            powerful extensions to the standar
ii  python-gobject        2.21.4+is.2.21.3-1 Python bindings for the GObject li
pn  python-matplotlib-dat <none>             (no description available)
ii  python-numpy          1:1.4.1-5          Numerical Python adds a fast array
ii  python-pyparsing      1.5.2-2            Python parsing module
ii  python-support        1.0.11             automated rebuilding support for P
ii  python-tz             2010b-1            Python version of the Olson timezo
ii  tcl8.5                8.5.8-2            Tcl (the Tool Command Language) v8
ii  tk8.5                 8.5.8-1            Tk toolkit for Tcl and X11, v8.5 -
ii  zlib1g                1:1.2.3.4.dfsg-3   compression library - runtime

Versions of packages python-matplotlib recommends:
ii  python-glade2                 2.17.0-4   GTK+ bindings: Glade support
ii  python-tk                     2.6.6-1    Tkinter - Writing Tk applications 

Versions of packages python-matplotlib suggests:
ii  dvipng                     1.13-1        convert DVI files to PNG graphics
ii  ipython                    0.10-1        enhanced interactive Python shell
ii  librsvg2-common            2.26.3-1      SAX-based renderer library for SVG
pn  python-configobj           <none>        (no description available)
ii  python-excelerator         0.6.4.1-1     module for reading/writing Excel s
ii  python-gtk2                2.17.0-4      Python bindings for the GTK+ widge
pn  python-matplotlib-doc      <none>        (no description available)
pn  python-qt3                 <none>        (no description available)
pn  python-qt4                 <none>        (no description available)
ii  python-scipy               0.7.2+dfsg1-1 scientific tools for Python
pn  python-traits              <none>        (no description available)
ii  python-wxgtk2.8            2.8.10.1-3+b1 wxWidgets Cross-platform C++ GUI t
pn  texlive-extra-utils        <none>        (no description available)
pn  texlive-latex-extra        <none>        (no description available)