# \[ANN\] Plots 1.37 - RFC Plots 2.0

**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-plots-1-37-rfc-plots-2-0/91270
**Category:** Package Announcements
**Tags:** plots
**Created:** [December 5, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-plots-1-37-rfc-plots-2-0/91270 "2022-12-05T16:28:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![t-bltg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/t-bltg/32/25526_2.png) [@t-bltg](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/t-bltg)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-plots-1-37-rfc-plots-2-0/91270/1 "2022-12-05T16:28:43Z")

</div>

A couple of notes on the release of Plots `1.37`.

- “best” legend position for `gr` (and other backends) has been implemented thanks to @lmiq in [this PR](https://github.com/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl/pull/4536).
- addition of the [`pythonplot`](https://docs.juliaplots.org/stable/gallery/pythonplot/) backend. This backend uses [`PythonCall`](https://github.com/cjdoris/PythonCall.jl) and [`PythonPlot`](https://github.com/stevengj/PythonPlot.jl) instead of [`PyCall`](https://github.com/JuliaPy/PyCall.jl) and [`PyPlot`](https://github.com/JuliaPy/PyPlot.jl). Even if the `pyplot` backend will still be supported in Plots `1.X`, users are encouraged to transition to the `pythonplot` backend, since new features and bug fixes are now added only to `pythonplot`.
- precompilation for a selected backend (thus improving TTFP). Plots will generate precompile statements for a selected backend, made persistent through [`Preferences`](https://github.com/JuliaPackaging/Preferences.jl), see the docs at [Persistent-backend-selection](https://docs.juliaplots.org/stable/backends/#Persistent-backend-selection) or the example below.

```julia
$ JULIA_PKG_PRECOMPILE_AUTO=0 julia -e 'import Plots; Plots.set_default_backend!(:pythonplot)'
$ julia # restart, show persistent mode
julia> using Plots
[Info: Precompiling Plots [91a5bcdd-55d7-5caf-9e0b-520d859cae80]
[ Info: PythonPlot # precompiles for this backend
julia> plot(1:2) |> display # always uses `PythonPlot` by default

```

Also, please join the discussion in [[RFC] Plots `2.0` · Issue #4565 · JuliaPlots/Plots.jl · GitHub](https://github.com/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl/issues/4565) for the wished for breaking features or removals in Plots `2.0`.

Thanks to @mkitti and @BeastyBlacksmith for reviews and comments.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Paul\_Soderlind](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/paul_soderlind/32/1753_2.png) [@Paul\_Soderlind](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Paul_Soderlind)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/ann-plots-1-37-rfc-plots-2-0/91270/2 "2022-12-05T20:41:19Z")

</div>

Thanks for the new version.

Still, I think the instruction

`JULIA_PKG_PRECOMPILE_AUTO=0 julia -e 'import Plots; Plots.set_default_backend!(:pythonplot)'`

will look confusing for many users. (It took me a while to parse it.) Why not just say: start the Julia REPL and run  
`import Plots; Plots.set_default_backend!(:pythonplot)`
