unzup and unpack the gzipped tar archive
$ tar -xvzf pygrace-0.3.tgz

install the package
$ python setup.py build
$ python setup.py install

import the grace class
>>> from pygrace import grace

instantiate the grace class
>>> pg = grace()

get help
>>> pg.doc()
Methods:
  prompt() --> start interactive session
  eval(command) --> execute a grace command
  put(name,val) --> put variable into interactive session
  get(name) --> get variable from interactive session
  who([name]) --> return the existing grace variables
  delete(name) --> destroy selected pylab variables
  restart() --> restart a grace window
Notes:
  grace and Numeric must be installed, grace also relies on (open)motif

use grace methods directly from the python interpreter
>>> from Numeric import *
>>> x = []
>>> for i in range(21): x.append(i*pi/10)
... 
>>> pg.plot(x,sin(x))

push python variables into grace and interact with grace scripting language
>>> pg.put('x',x)
>>> pg.put('y',cos(x))
>>> pg.eval('s0 line color 2')
>>> pg.eval('plot(x,y)')

use the interactive grace prompt
>>> pg.prompt()
grace interface:
vars=
     y
     x
grace> histoPlot(y)
grace> s0 fill color 3
grace> redraw()
grace> exit

check variables in grace session
>>> pg.who().keys()
['y', 'x']
>>> pg.who('x')
[0.0, 0.31415926535897931, 0.62831853071795862, 0.94247779607693793,
 1.2566370614359172, 1.5707963267948966, 1.8849555921538759,
 2.1991148575128552, 2.5132741228718345, 2.8274333882308138,
 3.1415926535897931, 3.455751918948772, 3.7699111843077517,
 4.0840704496667311, 4.3982297150257104, 4.7123889803846897,
 5.026548245743669, 5.3407075111026483, 5.6548667764616276,
 5.9690260418206069, 6.2831853071795862]

get variables back into python from grace
>>> cosx = pg.get('y')

use shortcuts for put, eval, and get
>>> pg.z = 0.5
>>> pg('print z')
0.5
>>> pg.z + 1
1.5

delete variables from grace
>>> pg.delete('x')
>>> pg.delete('y')

0.3: 05/23/06
 added examples directory
 shortcuts for put, get, & eval
0.2: 06/20/05
 put() & get() now handle sequence elements, slices, etc.
0.1: 06/17/05
 initial; python bindings for grace
 interactive grace prompt
 embed python into grace
 'plot' for 2-D line plots
 'histoPlot' for 2-D histograms

unzup and unpack the gzipped tar archive
$ tar -xvzf pyIDL-0.6.tgz

set environment variables
(paths will depend on IDL installation and platform)
$ export IDL_VERSION = '6.4'
$ export IDL_INCDIR = '/itt/idl/external/include'
$ export IDL_BINDIR = '/itt/idl/bin/bin.linux.x86'
$ export X11_LIBDIR = '/usr/lib/'  (linux only)

install the package
$ python setup.py build
$ python setup.py install

(alternatively, a Makefile is included)

import the idl class
>>> from pyIDL import idl

instantiate the idl class
>>> ri = idl()

get help
>>> print ri.doc()
Python-IDL bindings
    eval(command):
        execute an IDL command
    get(name,[array,allowNone]):
        fetch a variable from IDL
    put(name,value,[array,type,allowNone]):
        push a variable to IDL
    who([name,local,stdout]):
        print/return the IDL/local variables
    help([name]):
        print the IDL help message (for a variable)
    delete(name):
        destroy selected IDL variables
    map([name]):
        get the IDL data type mapping
    prompt():
        an interactive IDL session
    _print(value):
        print using the IDL print command

push python variables into IDL and interact with IDL scripting language
>>> from numarray import *
>>> x = []
>>> for i in range(21): x.append(i*pi/10)
...
>>> ri.put('x',x)
>>> ri.eval('y = sin(x)')
>>> ri.eval('plot, x,y')

use the interactive prompt
>>> ri.prompt()
IDL interface:
% At $MAIN$
X               DOUBLE    = Array[21]
Y               DOUBLE    = Array[21]
Compiled Procedures:
    $MAIN$

Compiled Functions:

IDL> IF x[0] LT 1 $
IDL> THEN print, x
       0.0000000      0.31415927      0.62831853      0.94247780      1.2566371
       1.5707963       1.8849556       2.1991149       2.5132741      2.8274334
       3.1415927       3.4557519       3.7699112       4.0840704      4.3982297
       4.7123890       5.0265482       5.3407075       5.6548668      5.9690260
       6.2831853
IDL> exit

check variables in IDL session
>>> ri.who().keys()
['Y', 'X']
>>> ri.who('y')
[0.0, 0.3090169943749474, 0.58778525229247314, 0.80901699437494745,
 0.95105651629515353, 1.0, 0.95105651629515364, 0.80901699437494745,
 0.58778525229247325, 0.30901699437494751, 1.2246063538223773e-16,
-0.3090169943749469, -0.58778525229247303, -0.80901699437494734,
-0.95105651629515353, -1.0, -0.95105651629515364, -0.80901699437494756,
-0.58778525229247336, -0.30901699437494762, -2.4492127076447545e-16]

get variables back into python from IDL
>>> sinx = ri.get('y')

use shortcuts for put, eval, and get
>>> ri.z = 0.5
>>> ri('print, z')
       0.50000000
>>> ri.z + 1
1.5

delete variables from IDL
>>> ri.delete('x')
>>> ri.delete('y')

use IDL function/procedure directly from python
>>> ri.sin(x)
[0.0, 0.3090169943749474, 0.58778525229247314, 0.80901699437494745,
 0.95105651629515353, 1.0, 0.95105651629515364, 0.80901699437494745,
 0.58778525229247325, 0.30901699437494751, 1.2246063538223773e-16,
-0.3090169943749469, -0.58778525229247303, -0.80901699437494734,
-0.95105651629515353, -1.0, -0.95105651629515364, -0.80901699437494756,
-0.58778525229247336, -0.30901699437494762, -2.4492127076447545e-16]

0.6: 07/18/07
 added support for idl_6.4
 fixed boolean support in direct IDL function/procedure calls
0.5: 04/18/07
 fixed support for python2.5
0.4.1: 12/01/06
 fixed support for mac os
0.4: 10/06/06
 added support for idl_6.3
 improved support for NumPy
 removed dependency on Numeric
0.3: 06/09/06
 improved support for Numeric
 added _print
 extended examples
0.2: 05/19/06
 added examples directory
 support for 64-bit platforms
 shortcuts for put, get, eval
 access IDL functions/procedures from python
0.1: 06/21/05
 initial; python bindings for RSI's IDL
 interactive IDL prompt