remove spurious warning

update news
Merge pull request #1681 from mkborregaard/plotattributes
2018-08-28 21:39:02 +02:00 · 2018-08-28 14:49:42 +02:00 · 2018-08-28 14:39:44 +02:00 · 2018-08-28 14:38:53 +02:00 · 2018-08-28 10:13:33 +02:00 · 2018-08-28 10:10:13 +02:00
53 changed files with 7382 additions and 3365 deletions
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@
 examples/.ipynb_checkpoints/*
 examples/meetup/.ipynb_checkpoints/*
 deps/plotly-latest.min.js
+deps/build.log
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ os:
  - linux
  # - osx
 julia:
-  - 0.5
-matrix:
-  allow_failures:
-    - julia: nightly
+  # - 0.7
+  - nightly
+# matrix:
+#   allow_failures:
+#     - julia: nightly

 # # before install:
 # #   - if [[ "$TRAVIS_OS_NAME" == "osx" ]]; then brew update          ; fi
@@ -42,10 +43,10 @@ before_install:
 notifications:
  email: true
 # uncomment the following lines to override the default test script
-script:
- - if [[ -a .git/shallow ]]; then git fetch --unshallow; fi
- - julia -e 'Pkg.clone(pwd()); Pkg.build("Plots")'
- - julia test/travis_commands.jl
+# script:
+ # - if [[ -a .git/shallow ]]; then git fetch --unshallow; fi
+ # - julia -e 'import Pkg; Pkg.add(Pkg.PackageSpec(path=pwd())); Pkg.build("Plots")'
+ # - julia test/travis_commands.jl
 # - julia -e 'Pkg.clone("ImageMagick"); Pkg.build("ImageMagick")'
 # - julia -e 'Pkg.clone("GR"); Pkg.build("GR")'
 # # - julia -e 'Pkg.clone("https://github.com/tbreloff/ImageMagick.jl.git"); Pkg.checkout("ImageMagick","tb_write"); Pkg.build("ImageMagick")'
@@ -3,14 +3,295 @@

 #### notes on release changes, ongoing development, and future planned work

- All new development should target 0.9!
- Minor version 0.8 is the last one to support Julia 0.4!!
+- Minor version 0.17 is the last one to support Julia 0.6!!
+- Minor version 0.11 is the last one to support Julia 0.5!!
 	- Critical bugfixes only
-    - `backports` branch is for Julia 0.4
+    - `backports` branch is for Julia 0.5

 ---
+## (current master)
+- All new development should target Julia 1.x!
+
+## 0.20.0
+Many updates, min julia 1.0
+- change display type to use PlotsDisplay (fixes Juno integration)
+- change all internal uses of `d` to `plotattributes` (no user change)
+- change spy implementation to use `scatter` not `heatmap`
+- sort x axes when passing a vector of strings as x
+- improve performance of marker_z
+- update CI to 1.0
+- minor depwarn ifixes
+- only draw one colorbar with GR
+- add colorbar_title to GR and pgfplots
+- fix savefig with latexstrings for PyPlot
+- fix NamedTuple integration
+- don't export `P2` and `P3`
+- make it possible to use 2-argument function as argument to marker_z
+- make `plotattr` work again
+
+## 0.19.3
+- fix some julia 0.7 deprecations
+- fix 32-bit OS functionality
+
+## 0.19.2
+- several small fixes for 1.0 compatibility
+
+## 0.19.1
+- don't broadcast plot_color
+
+## 0.19.0
+- Refactor conditional loading to use Requires
+- Many fixes for 1.0 compatibility
+
+## 0.18.0
+- update minor version to 0.7
+
+## 0.17.4
+- fix thickness_scaling for pyplot
+
+## 0.17.3
+- Log-scale heatmap edge computation
+- Fix size and dpi for GR and PyPlot
+- Fix fillrange with line segments on PyPlot and Plotly
+- fix flip for heatmap and image on GR
+- New attributes for PGFPlots
+- Widen axes for most series types and log scales
+- Plotly: fix log scale with no ticks
+- Fix axis flip on Plotly
+- Fix hover and zcolor interaction in Plotly
+- WebIO integration for PlotlyJS backend
+
+## 0.17.2
+- fix single subplot in plotly
+- implement `(xyz)lims = :round`
+- PyPlot: fix bg_legend = invisible()
+- set fallback tick specification for axes with discrete values
+- restructure of show methods
+
+## 0.17.1
+- Fix contour for PGFPlots
+- 32Bit fix: Int64 -> Int
+- Make series of shapes and segments toggle together in Plotly(JS)
+- Fix marker arguments
+- Fix processing order of series recipes
+- Fix Plotly(JS) ribbon
+- Contour plots with x,y in grid form on PyPlot
+
+## 0.17.0
+- Add GR dependency to make it the default backend
+- Improve histogram2d bin estimation
+- Allow vector arguments for certain series attributes and support line_z and fill_z on GR, PyPlot, Plotly(JS) and PGFPlots
+- Automatic scientific notation for tick labels
+- Allow to set the theme in PLOTS_DEFAULTS
+- Implement plots_heatmap seriestype providing a Plots recipe for heatmaps
+
+## 0.16.0
+- fix 3D plotting in PyPlot
+- Infinite objects
+
+## 0.15.1
+
+- fix scientific notation for labels in GR
+- fix labels with logscale
+- fix image cropping with GR
+- fix grouping of annotations
+- fix annotations in Plotly
+- allow saving notebook with plots as pdf from IJulia
+- fix fillrange and ribbon for step recipes
+- implement native ticks that respond to zoom
+- fix bar plot with one bar
+- contour labels and colorbar fixes
+- interactive linked axis for PyPlot
+- add `NamedTuple` syntax to group with named legend
+- use bar recipe in Plotly
+- implement categorical ticks
+
+## 0.15.0
+
+- improve resolution of png output of GR with savefig()
+- add check for ticks=nothing
+- allow transparency in heatmaps
+- fix line_z for GR
+- fix legendcolor for pyplot
+- fix pyplot ignoring alpha values of images
+- don't let `abline!` change subplot limits
+- update showtheme recipe
+
+## 0.14.2
+
+- fix plotly bar lines bug
+- allow passing multiple series to `ribbon`
+- add a new example for `line_z`
+
+## 0.14.1
+
+- Add linestyle argument to the legend
+- Plotly: bar_width and stroke_width support for bar plots
+- abline! does not change axis limits
+- Fix default log scale ticks in GR backend
+- Use the :fontsize keys so the scalefontsizes command works
+- Prepare support for new PlotTheme type in PlotThemes
+
+## 0.14.0
+
+- remove use of imagemagick; saving gifs now requires ffmpeg
+- improvements to ffmpeg gif quality and speed
+- overhaul of fonts, allows setting fonts in recipes and with magic arguments
+- added `camera` attribute to control camera position for 3d plots
+- added `showaxis` attribute to control which axes to display
+- improvements of polar plots axes, and better backend consistency
+- changed the 'spy' recipe back to using heatmap
+- added `scatterpath` seriestype
+- allow plotlyjs to save svg
+- add `reset_defaults()` function to reset plot defaults
+- update syntax to 0.6
+- make `fill = true` fill to 0 rather than to 1
+- use new `@df` syntax in StatPlots examples
+- allow changing the color of legend box
+- implement `title_location` for gr
+- add `hline` marker to pgfplots - fixes errorbars
+- pyplot legends now show marker types
+- pyplot colorbars take font style from y axis
+- pyplot tickmarks color the same as axis color
+- allow setting linewidth for contour in gr
+- allow legend to be outside plot area for pgfplots
+- expand axis extrema for heatmap
+- extendg grid lines to axis limits
+- fix `line_z` for pyplot and gr
+- fixed colorbar problem for flipped axes with gr
+- fix marker_z for 3d plots in gr
+- fix `weights` functionality for histograms
+- fix gr annotations with colorbar
+- fix aspect ratio in gr
+- fix "hidden window" problem after savefig in gr
+- fix pgfplots logscale ticks error
+- fix pgfplots legends symbols
+- fix axis linking for plotlyjs
+- fix plotting of grayscale images
+
+## 0.13.1
+
+- fix a bug when passing a vector of functions with no bounds (e.g. `plot([sin, cos])`)
+- export `pct` and `px` from Plots.PlotMeasures
+
+## 0.13.0
+
+- support `plotattributes` rather than `d` in recipes
+- no longer export `w`, `h` and names from Measures.jl; use `using Plots.PlotMeasures` to get these names back
+- `bar_width` now depends on the minimum distance between bars, not the mean
+- better automatic x axis limits for plotting Functions
+- `tick_direction` attribute now allows ticks to be on the inside of the plot border
+- removed a bug where `p1 = plot(randn(10)); plot(p1, p2)` made `display(p1)` impossible
+- allow `plot([])` to generate an empty plot
+- add `origin` framestyle
+- ensure finite bin number on histograms with only one unique value
+- better automatic histogram bins for 2d histograms
+- more informative error message on passing unsupported seriestype in a recipe
+- allow grouping in user recipes
+- GR now has `line_z` and `fill_z` attributes for determining the color of shapes and lines
+- change GR default view angle for 3D plots to match that of PyPlot
+- fix `clims` on GR
+- fix `marker_z` for plotly backend
+- implement `framestyle` for plotly
+- fix logscale bug error for values < 1e-16 on pyplot
+- fix an issue on pyplot where >1 colorbar would be shown if there was >1 series
+- fix `writemime` for eps
+
+## 0.12.4
+
+- added a new `framestyle` argument with choices: :box, :semi, :axes, :grid and :none
+- changed the default bar width to 0.8
+- added working ribbon to plotly backend
+- ensure that automatic ticks always generate 4 to 8 ticks
+- group now groups keyword arguments of the same length as the input
+- allow passing DateTime objects as ticks
+- allow specifying the number of ticks as an integre
+- fix bug on errorbars in gr
+- fixed some but not all world age issues
+- better margin with room for text
+- added a `match` option for linecolor
+- better error message un unsupported series types
+- add a 'stride' keyword for the pyplot backend
+
+## 0.12.3
+
+- new grid line style defaults
+- `grid` is now an axis attribute and a magic argument: it is now possible to modify the grid line style, alpha and line width
+- Enforce plot order in user recipes
+- import `plot!` from RecipesBase
+- GR no longer automatically handles _ and ^ in texts
+- fix GR colorbar for scatter plots
+
+#### 0.12.2
+
+- fix an issue with Juno/PlotlyJS compatibility on new installations
+- fix markers not showing up in seriesrecipes using :scatter
+- don't use pywrap in the pyplot backend
+- improve the bottom margin for the gr backend
+
+#### 0.12.1
+
+- fix deprecation warnings
+- switch from FixedSizeArrays to StaticArrays.FixedSizeArrays
+- drop FactCheck in tests
+- remove julia 0.5 compliant uses of transpose operator
+- fix GR heatmap bugs
+- fix GR guide padding
+- improve legend markers in GR
+- add surface alpha for Plotly(JS)
+- add fillrange to Plotly(JS)
+- allow usage of Matplotlib 1.5 with PyPlot
+- fix GLVisualize for julia 0.6
+- conform to changes in InspectDR
+
+#### 0.12.0
+
+- 0.6 only
+
+#### 0.11.3
+
+- add HDF5 backend
+- GR replaces PyPlot as first-choice backend
+- support for legend position in GR
+- smaller markers in GR
+- better viewport size in GR
+- fix glvisualize support
+- remove bug with three-argument method of `text`
+- `legendtitle` attribute added
+- add test for `spy`
+
+#### 0.11.0
+
+- julia 0.6 compatibility
+- matplotlib 2.0 compatibility
+- add inspectdr backend
+- improved histogram functionality:
+- added a `:stephist` and `:scatterhist` series type as well as ``:barhist` (the default)
+- support for log scale axes with histograms
+- support for plotting `StatsBase.Histogram`
+- allowing bins to be specified as `:sturges`, `:rice`, `:scott` or :fd
+- allow `normalization` to be specified as :density (for unequal bins) or :pdf (sum to 1)
+- add a `plotattr` function to access documentation for Plots attribute
+- add `fill_z` attribute for pyplot
+- add colorbar_title to plotlyjs
+- enable standalone window for plotlyjs
+- improved support for pgfplots, ticks rotation, clims, series_annotations
+- restore colorbars for GR
+- better axis labels for heatmap in GR
+- better marker sizes in GR
+- fix color representation in GR
+- update GR legend
+- fix image bug on GR
+- fix glvisualize dependencies
+- set dotted grid lines for pyplot
+- several improvements to inspectdr
+- improved tick positions for TimeType x axes
+- support for improved color gradient capability in PlotUtils
+- add a showlibrary recipe to display color libraries
+- add a showgradient recipe to display color gradients
+- add `vectorfield` as an alias for `quiver`
+- use `PlotUtils.adaptedgrid` for functions

-## 0.9 (current master/dev)

 #### 0.9.5

@@ -331,7 +612,7 @@
 - z-axis keywords
 - 3D indexing overhaul: `push!`, `append!` support
 - matplotlib colormap constants (`:inferno` is the new default colormap for Plots)
- `typealias KW Dict{Symbol,Any}` used in place of splatting in many places
+- `const KW = Dict{Symbol,Any}` used in place of splatting in many places
 - png generation for plotly backend using wkhtmltoimage
 - `normalize` and `weights` keywords
 - background/foreground subcategories for fine-tuning of looks
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 # Plots

-[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/tbreloff/Plots.jl.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/tbreloff/Plots.jl)
+[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl)
+[![Build status](https://ci.appveyor.com/api/projects/status/github/juliaplots/plots.jl?branch=master&svg=true)](https://ci.appveyor.com/project/mkborregaard/plots-jl)
 [![Join the chat at https://gitter.im/tbreloff/Plots.jl](https://badges.gitter.im/tbreloff/Plots.jl.svg)](https://gitter.im/tbreloff/Plots.jl?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge)
+<a href="http://docs.juliaplots.org/latest/" target="_blank"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/docs-latest-blue.svg" alt="Latest documentation"></a>
 <!-- [![Plots](http://pkg.julialang.org/badges/Plots_0.3.svg)](http://pkg.julialang.org/?pkg=Plots&ver=0.3) -->
 <!-- [![Plots](http://pkg.julialang.org/badges/Plots_0.4.svg)](http://pkg.julialang.org/?pkg=Plots&ver=0.4) -->
 <!-- [![Coverage Status](https://coveralls.io/repos/tbreloff/Plots.jl/badge.svg?branch=master)](https://coveralls.io/r/tbreloff/Plots.jl?branch=master) -->
 <!-- [![codecov.io](http://codecov.io/github/tbreloff/Plots.jl/coverage.svg?branch=master)](http://codecov.io/github/tbreloff/Plots.jl?branch=master) -->

-#### Author: Thomas Breloff (@tbreloff)
+#### Created by Tom Breloff (@tbreloff)
+
+#### Maintained by the [JuliaPlot members](https://github.com/orgs/JuliaPlots/people)

 Plots is a plotting API and toolset.  My goals with the package are:

@@ -18,5 +22,3 @@ Plots is a plotting API and toolset.  My goals with the package are:
 - **Consistent**.  Don't commit to one graphics package, use the same code everywhere.
 - **Lightweight**.  Very few dependencies.
 - **Smart**. Attempts to figure out what you **want** it to do... not just what you **tell** it.
-
-View the [full documentation](http://juliaplots.github.io).
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
-julia 0.5
+julia 1.0

-RecipesBase
-PlotUtils
-PlotThemes
+RecipesBase 0.6.0
+PlotUtils 0.4.1
+PlotThemes 0.1.3
 Reexport
-FixedSizeArrays
+StaticArrays 0.5
+FixedPointNumbers 0.3
 Measures
 Showoff
+StatsBase 0.14.0
+JSON
+NaNMath
+Requires
+Contour
+GR 0.31.0
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 environment:
  matrix:
-  - JULIAVERSION: "julialang/bin/winnt/x86/0.5/julia-0.5-latest-win32.exe"
-  - JULIAVERSION: "julialang/bin/winnt/x64/0.5/julia-0.5-latest-win64.exe"
-  - JULIAVERSION: "julianightlies/bin/winnt/x86/julia-latest-win32.exe"
-  - JULIAVERSION: "julianightlies/bin/winnt/x64/julia-latest-win64.exe"
+  # - JULIA_URL: "https://julialang-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x86/0.7/julia-0.7-latest-win32.exe"
+  # - JULIA_URL: "https://julialang-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x64/0.7/julia-0.7-latest-win64.exe"
+  - JULIA_URL: "https://julialangnightlies-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x86/julia-latest-win32.exe"
+  - JULIA_URL: "https://julialangnightlies-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x64/julia-latest-win64.exe"
+
+# matrix:
+#   allow_failures:
+#   - JULIA_URL: "https://julialangnightlies-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x86/julia-latest-win32.exe"
+#   - JULIA_URL: "https://julialangnightlies-s3.julialang.org/bin/winnt/x64/julia-latest-win64.exe"

 notifications:
  - provider: Email
@@ -12,21 +17,25 @@ notifications:
    on_build_status_changed: false

 install:
+  - ps: "[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12"
 # If there's a newer build queued for the same PR, cancel this one
  - ps: if ($env:APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER -and $env:APPVEYOR_BUILD_NUMBER -ne ((Invoke-RestMethod `
        https://ci.appveyor.com/api/projects/$env:APPVEYOR_ACCOUNT_NAME/$env:APPVEYOR_PROJECT_SLUG/history?recordsNumber=50).builds | `
        Where-Object pullRequestId -eq $env:APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER)[0].buildNumber) { `
        throw "There are newer queued builds for this pull request, failing early." }
 # Download most recent Julia Windows binary
-  - ps: (new-object net.webclient).DownloadFile($("http://s3.amazonaws.com/"+$env:JULIAVERSION), "C:\projects\julia-binary.exe")
+  - ps: (new-object net.webclient).DownloadFile($env:JULIA_URL, "C:\projects\julia-binary.exe")
 # Run installer silently, output to C:\projects\julia
  - C:\projects\julia-binary.exe /S /D=C:\projects\julia

 build_script:
 # Need to convert from shallow to complete for Pkg.clone to work
  - IF EXIST .git\shallow (git fetch --unshallow)
-  - C:\projects\julia\bin\julia -e "versioninfo(); Pkg.clone(pwd(), \"Plots\"); Pkg.build(\"Plots\")"
+  - C:\projects\julia\bin\julia -e "
+    using InteractiveUtils, Pkg;
+    versioninfo();
+    Pkg.clone(pwd(), \"Plots\");
+    Pkg.build(\"Plots\")"

 test_script:
-  # - C:\projects\julia\bin\julia -e "Pkg.test(\"Plots\")"
-  - C:\projects\julia\bin\julia -e "include(Pkg.dir(\"Plots\", \"test\", \"travis_commands.jl\"))"
+  - C:\projects\julia\bin\julia -e "using Pkg; Pkg.test(\"Plots\")"
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@

 local_fn = joinpath(dirname(@__FILE__), "plotly-latest.min.js")
 if !isfile(local_fn)
-	info("Cannot find deps/plotly-latest.min.js... downloading latest version.")
+	@info("Cannot find deps/plotly-latest.min.js... downloading latest version.")
 	download("https://cdn.plot.ly/plotly-latest.min.js", local_fn)
 end
@@ -1,14 +1,22 @@
-__precompile__(true)
-
 module Plots

 using Reexport
-using FixedSizeArrays
+
+import StaticArrays
+using StaticArrays.FixedSizeArrays
+using Dates, Printf, Statistics, Base64, LinearAlgebra
+import SparseArrays: findnz
+
@reexport using RecipesBase
+import RecipesBase: plot, plot!, animate
 using Base.Meta
@reexport using PlotUtils
@reexport using PlotThemes
 import Showoff
+import StatsBase
+import JSON
+
+using Requires

 export
    grid,
@@ -29,9 +37,6 @@ export
    with,
    twinx,

-    @userplot,
-    @shorthands,
-
    pie,
    pie!,
    plot3d,
@@ -50,6 +55,8 @@ export
    yflip!,
    xaxis!,
    yaxis!,
+    xgrid!,
+    ygrid!,

    xlims,
    ylims,
@@ -97,17 +104,50 @@ export
    rotate,
    rotate!,
    center,
-    P2,
-    P3,
-    BezierCurve
+    BezierCurve,
+
+    plotattr
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+import NaNMath # define functions that ignores NaNs. To overcome the destructive effects of https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/pull/12563
+ignorenan_minimum(x::AbstractArray{F}) where {F<:AbstractFloat} = NaNMath.minimum(x)
+ignorenan_minimum(x) = Base.minimum(x)
+ignorenan_maximum(x::AbstractArray{F}) where {F<:AbstractFloat} = NaNMath.maximum(x)
+ignorenan_maximum(x) = Base.maximum(x)
+ignorenan_mean(x::AbstractArray{F}) where {F<:AbstractFloat} = NaNMath.mean(x)
+ignorenan_mean(x) = Statistics.mean(x)
+ignorenan_extrema(x::AbstractArray{F}) where {F<:AbstractFloat} = NaNMath.extrema(x)
+ignorenan_extrema(x) = Base.extrema(x)
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+# to cater for block matrices, Base.transpose is recursive.
+# This makes it impossible to create row vectors of String and Symbol with the transpose operator.
+# This solves this issue, internally in Plots at least.
+
+
+# commented out on the insistence of the METADATA maintainers
+
+#Base.transpose(x::Symbol) = x
+#Base.transpose(x::String) = x

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

+import Measures
+module PlotMeasures
 import Measures
 import Measures: Length, AbsoluteLength, Measure, BoundingBox, mm, cm, inch, pt, width, height, w, h
-typealias BBox Measures.Absolute2DBox
-export BBox, BoundingBox, mm, cm, inch, pt, px, pct, w, h
+const BBox = Measures.Absolute2DBox

+# allow pixels and percentages
+const px = AbsoluteLength(0.254)
+const pct = Length{:pct, Float64}(1.0)
+export BBox, BoundingBox, mm, cm, inch, px, pct, pt, w, h
+end
+
+using .PlotMeasures
+import .PlotMeasures: Length, AbsoluteLength, Measure, width, height
 # ---------------------------------------------------------

 include("types.jl")
@@ -115,7 +155,6 @@ include("utils.jl")
 include("components.jl")
 include("axes.jl")
 include("args.jl")
-include("backends.jl")
 include("themes.jl")
 include("plot.jl")
 include("pipeline.jl")
@@ -124,34 +163,32 @@ include("layouts.jl")
 include("subplots.jl")
 include("recipes.jl")
 include("animation.jl")
-include("output.jl")
 include("examples.jl")
 include("arg_desc.jl")
-
+include("plotattr.jl")
+include("backends.jl")
+include("output.jl")
+include("init.jl")

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

-# define and export shorthand plotting method definitions
-macro shorthands(funcname::Symbol)
-    funcname2 = Symbol(funcname, "!")
-    esc(quote
-        export $funcname, $funcname2
-        $funcname(args...; kw...) = plot(args...; kw..., seriestype = $(quot(funcname)))
-        $funcname2(args...; kw...) = plot!(args...; kw..., seriestype = $(quot(funcname)))
-    end)
-end
-
@shorthands scatter
@shorthands bar
@shorthands barh
@shorthands histogram
+@shorthands barhist
+@shorthands stephist
+@shorthands scatterhist
@shorthands histogram2d
@shorthands density
@shorthands heatmap
+@shorthands plots_heatmap
@shorthands hexbin
@shorthands sticks
@shorthands hline
@shorthands vline
+@shorthands hspan
+@shorthands vspan
@shorthands ohlc
@shorthands contour
@shorthands contourf
@@ -165,56 +202,90 @@ end
@shorthands quiver
@shorthands curves

+"Plot a pie diagram"
 pie(args...; kw...)        = plot(args...; kw...,  seriestype = :pie, aspect_ratio = :equal, grid=false, xticks=nothing, yticks=nothing)
 pie!(args...; kw...)       = plot!(args...; kw..., seriestype = :pie, aspect_ratio = :equal, grid=false, xticks=nothing, yticks=nothing)
+
+"Plot with seriestype :path3d"
 plot3d(args...; kw...)     = plot(args...; kw...,  seriestype = :path3d)
 plot3d!(args...; kw...)    = plot!(args...; kw..., seriestype = :path3d)

-
+"Add title to an existing plot"
 title!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(; title = s, kw...)
+
+"Add xlabel to an existing plot"
 xlabel!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                = plot!(; xlabel = s, kw...)
+
+"Add ylabel to an existing plot"
 ylabel!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                = plot!(; ylabel = s, kw...)
-xlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; xlims = lims, kw...)
-ylims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; ylims = lims, kw...)
-zlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; zlims = lims, kw...)
+
+"Set xlims for an existing plot"
+xlims!(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real} = plot!(; xlims = lims, kw...)
+
+"Set ylims for an existing plot"
+ylims!(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real} = plot!(; ylims = lims, kw...)
+
+"Set zlims for an existing plot"
+zlims!(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real} = plot!(; zlims = lims, kw...)
+
 xlims!(xmin::Real, xmax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; xlims = (xmin,xmax), kw...)
 ylims!(ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; ylims = (ymin,ymax), kw...)
 zlims!(zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
-xticks!{T<:Real}(v::AVec{T}; kw...)                       = plot!(; xticks = v, kw...)
-yticks!{T<:Real}(v::AVec{T}; kw...)                       = plot!(; yticks = v, kw...)
-xticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(
-              ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
-yticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(
-              ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
+
+
+"Set xticks for an existing plot"
+xticks!(v::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; xticks = v, kw...)
+
+"Set yticks for an existing plot"
+yticks!(v::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}                       = plot!(; yticks = v, kw...)
+
+xticks!(
+ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
+yticks!(
+ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
+
+"Add annotations to an existing plot"
 annotate!(anns...; kw...)                                 = plot!(; annotation = anns, kw...)
-annotate!{T<:Tuple}(anns::AVec{T}; kw...)                 = plot!(; annotation = anns, kw...)
+annotate!(anns::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Tuple}                 = plot!(; annotation = anns, kw...)
+
+"Flip the current plots' x axis"
 xflip!(flip::Bool = true; kw...)                          = plot!(; xflip = flip, kw...)
+
+"Flip the current plots' y axis"
 yflip!(flip::Bool = true; kw...)                          = plot!(; yflip = flip, kw...)
+
+"Specify x axis attributes for an existing plot"
 xaxis!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; xaxis = args, kw...)
+
+"Specify x axis attributes for an existing plot"
 yaxis!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; yaxis = args, kw...)
+xgrid!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; xgrid = args, kw...)
+ygrid!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; ygrid = args, kw...)

 let PlotOrSubplot = Union{Plot, Subplot}
-    title!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; title = s, kw...)
-    xlabel!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; xlabel = s, kw...)
-    ylabel!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; ylabel = s, kw...)
-    xlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; xlims = lims, kw...)
-    ylims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; ylims = lims, kw...)
-    zlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; zlims = lims, kw...)
-    xlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, xmin::Real, xmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; xlims = (xmin,xmax), kw...)
-    ylims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; ylims = (ymin,ymax), kw...)
-    zlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
-    xticks!{T<:Real}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...)           = plot!(plt; xticks = ticks, kw...)
-    yticks!{T<:Real}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...)           = plot!(plt; yticks = ticks, kw...)
-    xticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
-                              ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(plt; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
-    yticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
-                              ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(plt; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
-    annotate!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, anns...; kw...)                         = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
-    annotate!{T<:Tuple}(plt::PlotOrSubplot, anns::AVec{T}; kw...)         = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
-    xflip!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, flip::Bool = true; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; xflip = flip, kw...)
-    yflip!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, flip::Bool = true; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; yflip = flip, kw...)
-    xaxis!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                            = plot!(plt; xaxis = args, kw...)
-    yaxis!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                            = plot!(plt; yaxis = args, kw...)
+    global title!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; title = s, kw...)
+    global xlabel!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; xlabel = s, kw...)
+    global ylabel!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; ylabel = s, kw...)
+    global xlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real}  = plot!(plt; xlims = lims, kw...)
+    global ylims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real}  = plot!(plt; ylims = lims, kw...)
+    global zlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:Real}  = plot!(plt; zlims = lims, kw...)
+    global xlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, xmin::Real, xmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; xlims = (xmin,xmax), kw...)
+    global ylims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; ylims = (ymin,ymax), kw...)
+    global zlims!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)             = plot!(plt; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
+    global xticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; xticks = ticks, kw...)
+    global yticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, ticks::TicksArgs; kw...) where {T<:Real}           = plot!(plt; yticks = ticks, kw...)
+    global xticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
+   ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(plt; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
+    global yticks!(plt::PlotOrSubplot,
+   ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...) where {T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}     = plot!(plt; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
+    global xgrid!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; xgrid = args, kw...)
+    global ygrid!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; ygrid = args, kw...)
+    global annotate!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, anns...; kw...)                         = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
+    global annotate!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, anns::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Tuple}         = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
+    global xflip!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, flip::Bool = true; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; xflip = flip, kw...)
+    global yflip!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, flip::Bool = true; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; yflip = flip, kw...)
+    global xaxis!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                            = plot!(plt; xaxis = args, kw...)
+    global yaxis!(plt::PlotOrSubplot, args...; kw...)                            = plot!(plt; yaxis = args, kw...)
 end


@@ -222,17 +293,4 @@ end

 const CURRENT_BACKEND = CurrentBackend(:none)

-function __init__()
-    setup_ijulia()
-    setup_atom()
-
-    if isdefined(Main, :PLOTS_DEFAULTS)
-        for (k,v) in Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS
-            default(k, v)
-        end
-    end
-end
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-
 end # module
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-
-immutable Animation
+"Represents an animation object"
+struct Animation
    dir::String
    frames::Vector{String}
 end
@@ -9,7 +9,12 @@ function Animation()
    Animation(tmpdir, String[])
 end

-function frame{P<:AbstractPlot}(anim::Animation, plt::P=current())
+"""
+    frame(animation[, plot])
+
+Add a plot (the current plot if not specified) to an existing animation
+"""
+function frame(anim::Animation, plt::P=current()) where P<:AbstractPlot
    i = length(anim.frames) + 1
    filename = @sprintf("%06d.png", i)
    png(plt, joinpath(anim.dir, filename))
@@ -20,7 +25,7 @@ giffn() = (isijulia() ? "tmp.gif" : tempname()*".gif")
 movfn() = (isijulia() ? "tmp.mov" : tempname()*".mov")
 mp4fn() = (isijulia() ? "tmp.mp4" : tempname()*".mp4")

-type FrameIterator
+mutable struct FrameIterator
    itr
    every::Int
    kw
@@ -49,46 +54,40 @@ end
 # -----------------------------------------------

 "Wraps the location of an animated gif so that it can be displayed"
-immutable AnimatedGif
+struct AnimatedGif
    filename::String
 end

 file_extension(fn) = Base.Filesystem.splitext(fn)[2][2:end]

 gif(anim::Animation, fn = giffn(); kw...) = buildanimation(anim.dir, fn; kw...)
-mov(anim::Animation, fn = movfn(); kw...) = buildanimation(anim.dir, fn; kw...)
-mp4(anim::Animation, fn = mp4fn(); kw...) = buildanimation(anim.dir, fn; kw...)
+mov(anim::Animation, fn = movfn(); kw...) = buildanimation(anim.dir, fn, false; kw...)
+mp4(anim::Animation, fn = mp4fn(); kw...) = buildanimation(anim.dir, fn, false; kw...)

-const _imagemagick_initialized = Ref(false)

-function buildanimation(animdir::AbstractString, fn::AbstractString;
-                        fps::Integer = 20, loop::Integer = 0)
+function buildanimation(animdir::AbstractString, fn::AbstractString,
+                        is_animated_gif::Bool=true;
+                        fps::Integer = 20, loop::Integer = 0,
+                        variable_palette::Bool=false,
+                        show_msg::Bool=true)
    fn = abspath(fn)
-    try
-        if !_imagemagick_initialized[]
-            file = joinpath(Pkg.dir("ImageMagick"), "deps","deps.jl")
-            if isfile(file) && !haskey(ENV, "MAGICK_CONFIGURE_PATH")
-                include(file)
-            end
-            _imagemagick_initialized[] = true
+
+    if is_animated_gif
+        if variable_palette
+            # generate a colorpalette for each frame for highest quality, but larger filesize
+            palette="palettegen=stats_mode=single[pal],[0:v][pal]paletteuse=new=1"
+            run(`ffmpeg -v 0 -framerate $fps -loop $loop -i $(animdir)/%06d.png -lavfi "$palette" -y $fn`)
+        else
+            # generate a colorpalette first so ffmpeg does not have to guess it
+            run(`ffmpeg -v 0 -i $(animdir)/%06d.png -vf "palettegen=stats_mode=diff" -y "$(animdir)/palette.bmp"`)
+            # then apply the palette to get better results
+            run(`ffmpeg -v 0 -framerate $fps -loop $loop -i $(animdir)/%06d.png -i "$(animdir)/palette.bmp" -lavfi "paletteuse=dither=sierra2_4a" -y $fn`)
        end
-
-        # prefix = get(ENV, "MAGICK_CONFIGURE_PATH", "")
-        # high quality
-        speed = round(Int, 100 / fps)
-        run(`convert -delay $speed -loop $loop $(joinpath(animdir, "*.png")) -alpha off $fn`)
-
-    catch err
-        warn("""Tried to create gif using convert (ImageMagick), but got error: $err
-            ImageMagick can be installed by executing `Pkg.add("ImageMagick")`
-            Will try ffmpeg, but it's lower quality...)""")
-
-        # low quality
-        run(`ffmpeg -v 0 -framerate $fps -loop $loop -i $(animdir)/%06d.png -y $fn`)
-        # run(`ffmpeg -v warning -i  "fps=$fps,scale=320:-1:flags=lanczos"`)
+    else
+        run(`ffmpeg -v 0 -framerate $fps -loop $loop -i $(animdir)/%06d.png -pix_fmt yuv420p -y $fn`)
    end

-    info("Saved animation to ", fn)
+    show_msg && @info("Saved animation to ", fn)
    AnimatedGif(fn)
 end

@@ -117,6 +116,7 @@ function _animate(forloop::Expr, args...; callgif = false)
  # add the call to frame to the end of each iteration
  animsym = gensym("anim")
  countersym = gensym("counter")
+  freqassert = :()
  block = forloop.args[2]

  # create filter
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ function _animate(forloop::Expr, args...; callgif = false)
    # filter every `freq` frames (starting with the first frame)
    @assert n == 2
    freq = args[2]
-    @assert isa(freq, Integer) && freq > 0
+    freqassert = :(@assert isa($freq, Integer) && $freq > 0)
    :(mod1($countersym, $freq) == 1)

  elseif args[1] == :when
@@ -142,15 +142,16 @@ function _animate(forloop::Expr, args...; callgif = false)
  end

  push!(block.args, :(if $filterexpr; frame($animsym); end))
-  push!(block.args, :($countersym += 1))
+  push!(block.args, :(global $countersym += 1))

  # add a final call to `gif(anim)`?
  retval = callgif ? :(gif($animsym)) : animsym

  # full expression:
  esc(quote
+    $freqassert             # if filtering, check frequency is an Integer > 0
    $animsym = Animation()  # init animation object
-    $countersym = 1         # init iteration counter
+    global $countersym = 1         # init iteration counter
    $forloop                # for loop, saving a frame after each iteration
    $retval                 # return the animation object, or the gif
  end)
@@ -21,14 +21,14 @@ const _arg_desc = KW(
 :markerstrokewidth 	=> "Number. Width of the marker stroke (border. in pixels)",
 :markerstrokecolor 	=> "Color Type. Color of the marker stroke (border).  `:match` will take the value from `:foreground_color_subplot`.",
 :markerstrokealpha 	=> "Number in [0,1]. The alpha/opacity override for the marker stroke (border).  `nothing` (the default) means it will take the alpha value of markerstrokecolor.",
-:bins              	=> "Integer, NTuple{2,Integer}, AbstractVector. For histogram-types, defines the number of bins, or the edges, of the histogram.",
+:bins              	=> "Integer, NTuple{2,Integer}, AbstractVector or Symbol. Default is :auto (the Freedman-Diaconis rule). For histogram-types, defines the approximate number of bins to aim for, or the auto-binning algorithm to use (:sturges, :sqrt, :rice, :scott or :fd). For fine-grained control pass a Vector of break values, e.g. `range(min(x), stop = extrema(x), length = 25)`",
 :smooth            	=> "Bool.  Add a regression line?",
 :group             	=> "AbstractVector. Data is split into a separate series, one for each unique value in `group`.",
 :x                 	=> "Various. Input data. First Dimension",
 :y                 	=> "Various. Input data. Second Dimension",
 :z                 	=> "Various. Input data. Third Dimension. May be wrapped by a `Surface` for surface and heatmap types.",
-:marker_z          	=> "AbstractVector, Function `f(x,y,z) -> z_value`, or nothing. z-values for each series data point, which correspond to the color to be used from a markercolor gradient.",
-:line_z          	=> "AbstractVector, Function `f(x,y,z) -> z_value`, or nothing. z-values for each series line segment, which correspond to the color to be used from a linecolor gradient.  Note that for N points, only the first N-1 values are used (one per line-segment).",
+:marker_z          	=> "AbstractVector, Function `f(x,y,z) -> z_value`, or Function `f(x,y) -> z_value`, or nothing. z-values for each series data point, which correspond to the color to be used from a markercolor gradient.",
+:line_z          	=> "AbstractVector, Function `f(x,y,z) -> z_value`, or Function `f(x,y) -> z_value`, or nothing. z-values for each series line segment, which correspond to the color to be used from a linecolor gradient.  Note that for N points, only the first N-1 values are used (one per line-segment).",
 :fill_z           => "Matrix{Float64} of the same size as z matrix, which specifies the color of the 3D surface; the default value is `nothing`.",
 :levels            	=> "Integer, NTuple{2,Integer}. Number of levels (or x-levels/y-levels) for a contour type.",
 :orientation       	=> "Symbol.  Horizontal or vertical orientation for bar types.  Values `:h`, `:hor`, `:horizontal` correspond to horizontal (sideways, anchored to y-axis), and `:v`, `:vert`, and `:vertical` correspond to vertical (the default).",
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ const _arg_desc = KW(
 :ribbon            	=> "Number or AbstractVector.  Creates a fillrange around the data points.",
 :quiver            	=> "AbstractVector or 2-Tuple of vectors.  The directional vectors U,V which specify velocity/gradient vectors for a quiver plot.",
 :arrow             	=> "nothing (no arrows), Bool (if true, default arrows), Arrow object, or arg(s) that could be style or head length/widths.  Defines arrowheads that should be displayed at the end of path line segments (just before a NaN and the last non-NaN point).  Used in quiverplot, streamplot, or similar.",
-:normalize         	=> "Bool. Should normalize histogram types?  Trying for area == 1.",
+:normalize         	=> "Bool or Symbol. Histogram normalization mode. Possible values are: false/:none (no normalization, default), true/:pdf (normalize to a discrete Probability Density Function, where the total area of the bins is 1), :probability (bin heights sum to 1) and :density (the area of each bin, rather than the height, is equal to the counts - useful for uneven bin sizes).",
 :weights           	=> "AbstractVector. Used in histogram types for weighted counts.",
 :contours          	=> "Bool. Add contours to the side-grids of 3D plots?  Used in surface/wireframe.",
+:contour_labels     => "Bool. Show labels at the contour lines?",
 :match_dimensions  	=> "Bool. For heatmap types... should the first dimension of a matrix (rows) correspond to the first dimension of the plot (x-axis)?  The default is false, which matches the behavior of Matplotlib, Plotly, and others.  Note: when passing a function for z, the function should still map `(x,y) -> z`.",
 :subplot           	=> "Integer (subplot index) or Subplot object.  The subplot that this series belongs to.",
 :series_annotations => "AbstractVector of String or PlotText.  These are annotations which are mapped to data points/positions.",
@@ -64,26 +65,37 @@ const _arg_desc = KW(
 :html_output_format       => "Symbol.  When writing html output, what is the format?  `:png` and `:svg` are currently supported.",
 :inset_subplots 		  => "nothing or vector of 2-tuple (parent,bbox).  optionally pass a vector of (parent,bbox) tuples which are the parent layout and the relative bounding box of inset subplots",
 :dpi 					  => "Number.  Dots Per Inch of output figures",
+:thickness_scaling        => "Number. Scale for the thickness of all line elements like lines, borders, axes, grid lines, ... defaults to 1.",
 :display_type 			  => "Symbol (`:auto`, `:gui`, or `:inline`).  When supported, `display` will either open a GUI window or plot inline.",
 :extra_kwargs 			  => "KW (Dict{Symbol,Any}).  Pass a map of extra keyword args which may be specific to a backend.",
+:fontfamily               => "String or Symbol.  Default font family for title, legend entries, tick labels and guides",

 # subplot args
 :title                    => "String. Subplot title.",
 :title_location           => "Symbol. Position of subplot title. Values: `:left`, `:center`, `:right`",
-:titlefont                => "Font. Font of subplot title.",
+:titlefontfamily          => "String or Symbol. Font family of subplot title.",
+:titlefontsize            => "Integer. Font pointsize of subplot title.",
+:titlefonthalign          => "Symbol. Font horizontal alignment of subplot title: :hcenter, :left, :right or :center",
+:titlefontvalign          => "Symbol. Font vertical alignment of subplot title: :vcenter, :top, :bottom or :center",
+:titlefontrotation        => "Real. Font rotation of subplot title",
+:titlefontcolor           => "Color Type. Font color of subplot title",
 :background_color_subplot => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:background_color`).  Base background color of the subplot.",
 :background_color_legend  => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:background_color_subplot`).  Background color of the legend.",
 :background_color_inside  => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:background_color_subplot`).  Background color inside the plot area (under the grid).",
 :foreground_color_subplot => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color`).  Base foreground color of the subplot.",
 :foreground_color_legend  => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`).  Foreground color of the legend.",
-:foreground_color_grid    => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of grid lines.",
 :foreground_color_title   => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of subplot title.",
 :color_palette            => "Vector of colors (cycle through) or color gradient (generate list from gradient) or `:auto` (generate a color list using `Colors.distiguishable_colors` and custom seed colors chosen to contrast with the background).  The color palette is a color list from which series colors are automatically chosen.",
 :legend                   => "Bool (show the legend?) or Symbol (legend position).  Symbol values: `:none`, `:best`, `:right`, `:left`, `:top`, `:bottom`, `:inside`, `:legend`, `:topright`, `:topleft`, `:bottomleft`, `:bottomright` (note: only some may be supported in each backend)",
+:legendfontfamily         => "String or Symbol. Font family of legend entries.",
+:legendfontsize           => "Integer. Font pointsize of legend entries.",
+:legendfonthalign         => "Symbol. Font horizontal alignment of legend entries: :hcenter, :left, :right or :center",
+:legendfontvalign         => "Symbol. Font vertical alignment of legend entries: :vcenter, :top, :bottom or :center",
+:legendfontrotation       => "Real. Font rotation of legend entries",
+:legendfontcolor          => "Color Type. Font color of legend entries",
 :colorbar                 => "Bool (show the colorbar?) or Symbol (colorbar position).  Symbol values: `:none`, `:best`, `:right`, `:left`, `:top`, `:bottom`, `:legend` (matches legend value) (note: only some may be supported in each backend)",
 :clims 					  => "`:auto` or NTuple{2,Number}.  Fixes the limits of the colorbar.",
 :legendfont               => "Font. Font of legend items.",
-:grid                     => "Bool. Show the grid lines?",
 :annotations              => "(x,y,text) tuple(s).  Can be a single tuple or a list of them.  Text can be String or PlotText (created with `text(args...)`)  Add one-off text annotations at the x,y coordinates.",
 :projection               => "Symbol or String.  '3d' or 'polar'",
 :aspect_ratio             => "Symbol (:equal) or Number. Plot area is resized so that 1 y-unit is the same size as `apect_ratio` x-units.",
@@ -94,21 +106,46 @@ const _arg_desc = KW(
 :bottom_margin            => "Measure (multiply by `mm`, `px`, etc) or `:match` (matches `:margin`).  Specifies the extra padding on the bottom of the subplot.",
 :subplot_index            => "Integer.  Internal (not set by user).  Specifies the index of this subplot in the Plot's `plt.subplot` list.",
 :colorbar_title           => "String.  Title of colorbar.",
+:framestyle               => "Symbol.  Style of the axes frame. Choose from $(_allFramestyles)",
+:camera                   => "NTuple{2, Real}. Sets the view angle (azimuthal, elevation) for 3D plots",

 # axis args
 :guide     				  => "String. Axis guide (label).",
-:lims      				  => "NTuple{2,Number}. Force axis limits.  Only finite values are used (you can set only the right limit with `xlims = (-Inf, 2)` for example).",
+:lims      				  => "NTuple{2,Number} or Symbol. Force axis limits.  Only finite values are used (you can set only the right limit with `xlims = (-Inf, 2)` for example). `:round` widens the limit to the nearest round number ie. [0.1,3.6]=>[0.0,4.0]",
 :ticks     				  => "Vector of numbers (set the tick values), Tuple of (tickvalues, ticklabels), or `:auto`",
 :scale     				  => "Symbol. Scale of the axis: `:none`, `:ln`, `:log2`, `:log10`",
 :rotation  				  => "Number. Degrees rotation of tick labels.",
 :flip      				  => "Bool.  Should we flip (reverse) the axis?",
 :formatter 				  => "Function, :scientific, or :auto. A method which converts a number to a string for tick labeling.",
-:tickfont  				  => "Font. Font of axis tick labels.",
-:guidefont 				  => "Font. Font of axis guide (label).",
+:tickfontfamily           => "String or Symbol. Font family of tick labels.",
+:tickfontsize             => "Integer. Font pointsize of tick labels.",
+:tickfonthalign           => "Symbol. Font horizontal alignment of tick labels: :hcenter, :left, :right or :center",
+:tickfontvalign           => "Symbol. Font vertical alignment of tick labels: :vcenter, :top, :bottom or :center",
+:tickfontrotation         => "Real. Font rotation of tick labels",
+:tickfontcolor            => "Color Type. Font color of tick labels",
+:guidefontfamily          => "String or Symbol. Font family of axes guides.",
+:guidefontsize            => "Integer. Font pointsize of axes guides.",
+:guidefonthalign          => "Symbol. Font horizontal alignment of axes guides: :hcenter, :left, :right or :center",
+:guidefontvalign          => "Symbol. Font vertical alignment of axes guides: :vcenter, :top, :bottom or :center",
+:guidefontrotation        => "Real. Font rotation of axes guides",
+:guidefontcolor           => "Color Type. Font color of axes guides",
 :foreground_color_axis    => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of axis ticks.",
 :foreground_color_border  => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of plot area border (spines).",
 :foreground_color_text    => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of tick labels.",
 :foreground_color_guide   => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of axis guides (axis labels).",
 :mirror                   => "Bool.  Switch the side of the tick labels (right or top).",
-
+:grid                     => "Bool, Symbol, String or `nothing`. Show the grid lines? `true`, `false`, `:show`, `:hide`, `:yes`, `:no`, `:x`, `:y`, `:z`, `:xy`, ..., `:all`, `:none`, `:off`",
+:foreground_color_grid    => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of grid lines.",
+:gridalpha                => "Number in [0,1]. The alpha/opacity override for the grid lines.",
+:gridstyle                => "Symbol. Style of the grid lines. Choose from $(_allStyles)",
+:gridlinewidth            => "Number. Width of the grid lines (in pixels)",
+:foreground_color_minor_grid => "Color Type or `:match` (matches `:foreground_color_subplot`). Color of minor grid lines.",
+:minorgrid                => "Bool. Adds minor grid lines and ticks to the plot. Set minorticks to change number of gridlines",
+:minorticks               => "Integer. Intervals to divide the gap between major ticks into",
+:minorgridalpha           => "Number in [0,1]. The alpha/opacity override for the minorgrid lines.",
+:minorgridstyle           => "Symbol. Style of the minor grid lines. Choose from $(_allStyles)",
+:minorgridlinewidth       => "Number. Width of the minor grid lines (in pixels)",
+:tick_direction           => "Symbol.  Direction of the ticks. `:in` or `:out`",
+:showaxis                 => "Bool, Symbol or String.  Show the axis. `true`, `false`, `:show`, `:hide`, `:yes`, `:no`, `:x`, `:y`, `:z`, `:xy`, ..., `:all`, `:off`",
+:widen                    => "Bool. Widen the axis limits by a small factor to avoid cut-off markers and lines at the borders. Defaults to `true`.",
 )
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@

 function Axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol, args...; kw...)
    # init with values from _plot_defaults
-    d = KW(
+    plotattributes = KW(
        :letter => letter,
        # :extrema => (Inf, -Inf),
        :extrema => Extrema(),
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ function Axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol, args...; kw...)
    for (k,v) in _axis_defaults
        lk = Symbol(letter, k)
        lv = _axis_defaults_byletter[lk]
-        d[k] = (lv == :match ? v : lv)
+        plotattributes[k] = (lv == :match ? v : lv)
    end

-    # merge!(d, _axis_defaults)
-    d[:discrete_values] = []
+    # merge!(plotattributes, _axis_defaults)
+    plotattributes[:discrete_values] = []

    # update the defaults
-    attr!(Axis([sp], d), args...; kw...)
+    attr!(Axis([sp], plotattributes), args...; kw...)
 end

 function get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
@@ -41,43 +41,46 @@ function get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
    end::Axis
 end

-function process_axis_arg!(d::KW, arg, letter = "")
+function process_axis_arg!(plotattributes::KW, arg, letter = "")
    T = typeof(arg)
    arg = get(_scaleAliases, arg, arg)

    if typeof(arg) <: Font
-        d[Symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
-        d[Symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg

    elseif arg in _allScales
-        d[Symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg

    elseif arg in (:flip, :invert, :inverted)
-        d[Symbol(letter,:flip)] = true
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:flip)] = true

    elseif T <: AbstractString
-        d[Symbol(letter,:guide)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:guide)] = arg

    # xlims/ylims
    elseif (T <: Tuple || T <: AVec) && length(arg) == 2
        sym = typeof(arg[1]) <: Number ? :lims : :ticks
-        d[Symbol(letter,sym)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,sym)] = arg

    # xticks/yticks
    elseif T <: AVec
-        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg

    elseif arg == nothing
-        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
+
+    elseif T <: Bool || arg in _allShowaxisArgs
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:showaxis)] = showaxis(arg, letter)

    elseif typeof(arg) <: Number
-        d[Symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg

    elseif typeof(arg) <: Function
-        d[Symbol(letter,:formatter)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:formatter)] = arg

-    else
-        warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
+    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
+        @warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")

    end
 end
@@ -85,28 +88,28 @@ end
 # update an Axis object with magic args and keywords
 function attr!(axis::Axis, args...; kw...)
    # first process args
-    d = axis.d
+    plotattributes = axis.plotattributes
    for arg in args
-        process_axis_arg!(d, arg)
+        process_axis_arg!(plotattributes, arg)
    end

-    # then override for any keywords... only those keywords that already exists in d
+    # then override for any keywords... only those keywords that already exists in plotattributes
    for (k,v) in kw
-        if haskey(d, k)
+        if haskey(plotattributes, k)
            if k == :discrete_values
                # add these discrete values to the axis
                for vi in v
                    discrete_value!(axis, vi)
                end
            else
-                d[k] = v
+                plotattributes[k] = v
            end
        end
    end

    # replace scale aliases
-    if haskey(_scaleAliases, d[:scale])
-        d[:scale] = _scaleAliases[d[:scale]]
+    if haskey(_scaleAliases, plotattributes[:scale])
+        plotattributes[:scale] = _scaleAliases[plotattributes[:scale]]
    end

    axis
@@ -114,11 +117,11 @@ end

 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Base.show(io::IO, axis::Axis) = dumpdict(axis.d, "Axis", true)
-# Base.getindex(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = getindex(axis.d, k)
-Base.setindex!(axis::Axis, v, ks::Symbol...) = setindex!(axis.d, v, ks...)
-Base.haskey(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = haskey(axis.d, k)
-Base.extrema(axis::Axis) = (ex = axis[:extrema]; (ex.emin, ex.emax))
+Base.show(io::IO, axis::Axis) = dumpdict(axis.plotattributes, "Axis", true)
+# Base.getindex(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = getindex(axis.plotattributes, k)
+Base.setindex!(axis::Axis, v, ks::Symbol...) = setindex!(axis.plotattributes, v, ks...)
+Base.haskey(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = haskey(axis.plotattributes, k)
+ignorenan_extrema(axis::Axis) = (ex = axis[:extrema]; (ex.emin, ex.emax))


 const _scale_funcs = Dict{Symbol,Function}(
@@ -156,16 +159,52 @@ function optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis::Axis, ticks = nothing)
    scale = axis[:scale]
    sf = scalefunc(scale)

+    # If the axis input was a Date or DateTime use a special logic to find
+    # "round" Date(Time)s as ticks
+    # This bypasses the rest of optimal_ticks_and_labels, because
+    # optimize_datetime_ticks returns ticks AND labels: the label format (Date
+    # or DateTime) is chosen based on the time span between amin and amax
+    # rather than on the input format
+    # TODO: maybe: non-trivial scale (:ln, :log2, :log10) for date/datetime
+    if ticks == nothing && scale == :identity
+        if axis[:formatter] == dateformatter
+            # optimize_datetime_ticks returns ticks and labels(!) based on
+            # integers/floats corresponding to the DateTime type. Thus, the axes
+            # limits, which resulted from converting the Date type to integers,
+            # are converted to 'DateTime integers' (actually floats) before
+            # being passed to optimize_datetime_ticks.
+            # (convert(Int, convert(DateTime, convert(Date, i))) == 87600000*i)
+            ticks, labels = optimize_datetime_ticks(864e5 * amin, 864e5 * amax;
+                k_min = 2, k_max = 4)
+            # Now the ticks are converted back to floats corresponding to Dates.
+            return ticks / 864e5, labels
+        elseif axis[:formatter] == datetimeformatter
+            return optimize_datetime_ticks(amin, amax; k_min = 2, k_max = 4)
+        end
+    end
+
    # get a list of well-laid-out ticks
-    scaled_ticks = if ticks == nothing
-        optimize_ticks(
+    if ticks == nothing
+        scaled_ticks = optimize_ticks(
            sf(amin),
            sf(amax);
-            k_min = 5, # minimum number of ticks
+            k_min = 4, # minimum number of ticks
            k_max = 8, # maximum number of ticks
        )[1]
+    elseif typeof(ticks) <: Int
+        scaled_ticks, viewmin, viewmax = optimize_ticks(
+            sf(amin),
+            sf(amax);
+            k_min = ticks, # minimum number of ticks
+            k_max = ticks, # maximum number of ticks
+            k_ideal = ticks,
+            # `strict_span = false` rewards cases where the span of the
+            # chosen  ticks is not too much bigger than amin - amax:
+            strict_span = false,
+        )
+        axis[:lims] = map(invscalefunc(scale), (viewmin, viewmax))
    else
-        map(sf, filter(t -> amin <= t <= amax, ticks))
+        scaled_ticks = map(sf, (filter(t -> amin <= t <= amax, ticks)))
    end
    unscaled_ticks = map(invscalefunc(scale), scaled_ticks)

@@ -173,12 +212,20 @@ function optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis::Axis, ticks = nothing)
        formatter = axis[:formatter]
        if formatter == :auto
            # the default behavior is to make strings of the scaled values and then apply the labelfunc
+            map(labelfunc(scale, backend()), Showoff.showoff(scaled_ticks, :auto))
+        elseif formatter == :plain
+            # Leave the numbers in plain format
            map(labelfunc(scale, backend()), Showoff.showoff(scaled_ticks, :plain))
        elseif formatter == :scientific
            Showoff.showoff(unscaled_ticks, :scientific)
        else
            # there was an override for the formatter... use that on the unscaled ticks
            map(formatter, unscaled_ticks)
+            # if the formatter left us with numbers, still apply the default formatter
+            # However it leave us with the problem of unicode number decoding by the backend
+            # if eltype(unscaled_ticks) <: Number
+            #     Showoff.showoff(unscaled_ticks, :auto)
+            # end
        end
    else
        # no finite ticks to show...
@@ -192,20 +239,39 @@ end

 # return (continuous_values, discrete_values) for the ticks on this axis
 function get_ticks(axis::Axis)
-    ticks = axis[:ticks]
+    ticks = _transform_ticks(axis[:ticks])
    ticks in (nothing, false) && return nothing

+    # treat :native ticks as :auto
+    ticks = ticks == :native ? :auto : ticks
+
    dvals = axis[:discrete_values]
-    cv, dv = if !isempty(dvals) && ticks == :auto
-        # discrete ticks...
-        axis[:continuous_values], dvals
-    elseif ticks == :auto
-        # compute optimal ticks and labels
-        optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis)
-    elseif typeof(ticks) <: AVec
-        # override ticks, but get the labels
-        optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis, ticks)
-    elseif typeof(ticks) <: NTuple{2}
+    cv, dv = if typeof(ticks) <: Symbol
+        if !isempty(dvals)
+            # discrete ticks...
+            n = length(dvals)
+            rng = if ticks == :auto
+                Int[round(Int,i) for i in range(1, stop=n, length=15)]
+            else # if ticks == :all
+                1:n
+            end
+            axis[:continuous_values][rng], dvals[rng]
+        elseif ispolar(axis.sps[1]) && axis[:letter] == :x
+            #force theta axis to be full circle
+            (collect(0:pi/4:7pi/4), string.(0:45:315))
+        else
+            # compute optimal ticks and labels
+            optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis)
+        end
+    elseif typeof(ticks) <: Union{AVec, Int}
+        if !isempty(dvals) && typeof(ticks) <: Int
+            rng = Int[round(Int,i) for i in range(1, stop=length(dvals), length=ticks)]
+            axis[:continuous_values][rng], dvals[rng]
+        else
+            # override ticks, but get the labels
+            optimal_ticks_and_labels(axis, ticks)
+        end
+    elseif typeof(ticks) <: NTuple{2, Any}
        # assuming we're passed (ticks, labels)
        ticks
    else
@@ -213,13 +279,39 @@ function get_ticks(axis::Axis)
    end
    # @show ticks dvals cv dv

-    # TODO: better/smarter cutoff values for sampling ticks
-    if length(cv) > 30
-        rng = Int[round(Int,i) for i in linspace(1, length(cv), 15)]
-        cv[rng], dv[rng]
+    return cv, dv
+end
+
+_transform_ticks(ticks) = ticks
+_transform_ticks(ticks::AbstractArray{T}) where T <: Dates.TimeType = Dates.value.(ticks)
+_transform_ticks(ticks::NTuple{2, Any}) = (_transform_ticks(ticks[1]), ticks[2])
+
+function get_minor_ticks(axis,ticks)
+    axis[:minorticks] in (nothing, false) && !axis[:minorgrid] && return nothing
+    ticks = ticks[1]
+    length(ticks) < 2 && return nothing
+
+    amin, amax = axis_limits(axis)
+    #Add one phantom tick either side of the ticks to ensure minor ticks extend to the axis limits
+    if length(ticks) > 2
+        ratio = (ticks[3] - ticks[2])/(ticks[2] - ticks[1])
+    elseif axis[:scale] == :none
+        ratio = 1
    else
-        cv, dv
+        return nothing
    end
+    first_step = ticks[2] - ticks[1]
+    last_step = ticks[end] - ticks[end-1]
+    ticks =  [ticks[1] - first_step/ratio; ticks; ticks[end] + last_step*ratio]
+
+    #Default to 5 intervals between major ticks
+    n = typeof(axis[:minorticks]) <: Integer && axis[:minorticks] > 1 ? axis[:minorticks] : 5
+    minorticks = typeof(ticks[1])[]
+    for (i,hi) in enumerate(ticks[2:end])
+        lo = ticks[i]
+        append!(minorticks,collect(lo + (hi-lo)/n :(hi-lo)/n: hi - (hi-lo)/2n))
+    end
+    minorticks[amin .<= minorticks .<= amax]
 end

 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -230,14 +322,14 @@ function reset_extrema!(sp::Subplot)
        sp[Symbol(asym,:axis)][:extrema] = Extrema()
    end
    for series in sp.series_list
-        expand_extrema!(sp, series.d)
+        expand_extrema!(sp, series.plotattributes)
    end
 end


 function expand_extrema!(ex::Extrema, v::Number)
-    ex.emin = min(v, ex.emin)
-    ex.emax = max(v, ex.emax)
+    ex.emin = isfinite(v) ? min(v, ex.emin) : ex.emin
+    ex.emax = isfinite(v) ? max(v, ex.emax) : ex.emax
    ex
 end

@@ -246,17 +338,17 @@ function expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, v::Number)
 end

 # these shouldn't impact the extrema
-expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, ::Void) = axis[:extrema]
+expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, ::Nothing) = axis[:extrema]
 expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, ::Bool) = axis[:extrema]


-function expand_extrema!{MIN<:Number,MAX<:Number}(axis::Axis, v::Tuple{MIN,MAX})
+function expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, v::Tuple{MIN,MAX}) where {MIN<:Number,MAX<:Number}
    ex = axis[:extrema]
-    ex.emin = min(v[1], ex.emin)
-    ex.emax = max(v[2], ex.emax)
+    ex.emin = isfinite(v[1]) ? min(v[1], ex.emin) : ex.emin
+    ex.emax = isfinite(v[2]) ? max(v[2], ex.emax) : ex.emax
    ex
 end
-function expand_extrema!{N<:Number}(axis::Axis, v::AVec{N})
+function expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, v::AVec{N}) where N<:Number
    ex = axis[:extrema]
    for vi in v
        expand_extrema!(ex, vi)
@@ -265,16 +357,19 @@ function expand_extrema!{N<:Number}(axis::Axis, v::AVec{N})
 end


-function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
-    vert = isvertical(d)
+function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::KW)
+    vert = isvertical(plotattributes)

    # first expand for the data
    for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        data = d[if vert
+        data = plotattributes[if vert
            letter
        else
            letter == :x ? :y : letter == :y ? :x : :z
        end]
+        if letter != :z && plotattributes[:seriestype] == :straightline && any(series[:seriestype] != :straightline for series in series_list(sp)) && data[1] != data[2]
+            data = [NaN]
+        end
        axis = sp[Symbol(letter, "axis")]

        if isa(data, Volume)
@@ -284,30 +379,30 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
        elseif eltype(data) <: Number || (isa(data, Surface) && all(di -> isa(di, Number), data.surf))
            if !(eltype(data) <: Number)
                # huh... must have been a mis-typed surface? lets swap it out
-                data = d[letter] = Surface(Matrix{Float64}(data.surf))
+                data = plotattributes[letter] = Surface(Matrix{Float64}(data.surf))
            end
            expand_extrema!(axis, data)
        elseif data != nothing
            # TODO: need more here... gotta track the discrete reference value
            #       as well as any coord offset (think of boxplot shape coords... they all
            #       correspond to the same x-value)
-            d[letter], d[Symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
-            expand_extrema!(axis, d[letter])
+            plotattributes[letter], plotattributes[Symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
+            expand_extrema!(axis, plotattributes[letter])
        end
    end

    # # expand for fillrange/bar_width
    # fillaxis, baraxis = sp.attr[:yaxis], sp.attr[:xaxis]
-    # if isvertical(d)
+    # if isvertical(plotattributes)
    #     fillaxis, baraxis = baraxis, fillaxis
    # end

    # expand for fillrange
-    fr = d[:fillrange]
-    if fr == nothing && d[:seriestype] == :bar
+    fr = plotattributes[:fillrange]
+    if fr == nothing && plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
        fr = 0.0
    end
-    if fr != nothing
+    if fr != nothing && !all3D(plotattributes)
        axis = sp.attr[vert ? :yaxis : :xaxis]
        if typeof(fr) <: Tuple
            for fri in fr
@@ -319,19 +414,28 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
    end

    # expand for bar_width
-    if d[:seriestype] == :bar
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
        dsym = vert ? :x : :y
-        data = d[dsym]
+        data = plotattributes[dsym]

-        bw = d[:bar_width]
+        bw = plotattributes[:bar_width]
        if bw == nothing
-            bw = d[:bar_width] = mean(diff(data))
+            bw = plotattributes[:bar_width] = _bar_width * ignorenan_minimum(filter(x->x>0,diff(sort(data))))
        end
        axis = sp.attr[Symbol(dsym, :axis)]
-        expand_extrema!(axis, maximum(data) + 0.5maximum(bw))
-        expand_extrema!(axis, minimum(data) - 0.5minimum(bw))
+        expand_extrema!(axis, ignorenan_maximum(data) + 0.5maximum(bw))
+        expand_extrema!(axis, ignorenan_minimum(data) - 0.5minimum(bw))
    end

+    # expand for heatmaps
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :heatmap
+        for letter in (:x, :y)
+            data = plotattributes[letter]
+            axis = sp[Symbol(letter, "axis")]
+            scale = get(plotattributes, Symbol(letter, "scale"), :identity)
+            expand_extrema!(axis, heatmap_edges(data, scale))
+        end
+    end
 end

 function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
@@ -342,21 +446,23 @@ end
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 # push the limits out slightly
-function widen(lmin, lmax)
-    span = lmax - lmin
-    # eps = max(1e-16, min(1e-2span, 1e-10))
-    eps = max(1e-16, 0.03span)
-    lmin-eps, lmax+eps
+function widen(lmin, lmax, scale = :identity)
+    f, invf = scalefunc(scale), invscalefunc(scale)
+    span = f(lmax) - f(lmin)
+    # eps = NaNMath.max(1e-16, min(1e-2span, 1e-10))
+    eps = NaNMath.max(1e-16, 0.03span)
+    invf(f(lmin)-eps), invf(f(lmax)+eps)
 end

-# figure out if widening is a good idea.  if there's a scale set it's too tricky,
-# so lazy out and don't widen
+# figure out if widening is a good idea.
+const _widen_seriestypes = (:line, :path, :steppre, :steppost, :sticks, :scatter, :barbins, :barhist, :histogram, :scatterbins, :scatterhist, :stepbins, :stephist, :bins2d, :histogram2d, :bar, :shape, :path3d, :scatter3d)
+
 function default_should_widen(axis::Axis)
    should_widen = false
-    if axis[:scale] == :identity && !is_2tuple(axis[:lims])
+    if !is_2tuple(axis[:lims])
        for sp in axis.sps
            for series in series_list(sp)
-                if series.d[:seriestype] in (:scatter,) || series.d[:markershape] != :none
+                if series.plotattributes[:seriestype] in _widen_seriestypes
                    should_widen = true
                end
            end
@@ -365,6 +471,13 @@ function default_should_widen(axis::Axis)
    should_widen
 end

+function round_limits(amin,amax)
+    scale = 10^(1-round(log10(amax - amin)))
+    amin = floor(amin*scale)/scale
+    amax = ceil(amax*scale)/scale
+    amin, amax
+end
+
 # using the axis extrema and limit overrides, return the min/max value for this axis
 function axis_limits(axis::Axis, should_widen::Bool = default_should_widen(axis))
    ex = axis[:extrema]
@@ -384,8 +497,19 @@ function axis_limits(axis::Axis, should_widen::Bool = default_should_widen(axis)
    if !isfinite(amin) && !isfinite(amax)
        amin, amax = 0.0, 1.0
    end
-    if should_widen
-        widen(amin, amax)
+    if ispolar(axis.sps[1])
+        if axis[:letter] == :x
+            amin, amax = 0, 2pi
+        elseif lims == :auto
+            #widen max radius so ticks dont overlap with theta axis
+            amin, amax + 0.1 * abs(amax - amin)
+        else
+            amin, amax
+        end
+    elseif should_widen && axis[:widen]
+        widen(amin, amax, axis[:scale])
+    elseif lims == :round
+        round_limits(amin,amax)
    else
        amin, amax
    end
@@ -401,7 +525,7 @@ function discrete_value!(axis::Axis, dv)
    # @show axis[:discrete_map], axis[:discrete_values], dv
    if cv_idx == -1
        ex = axis[:extrema]
-        cv = max(0.5, ex.emax + 1.0)
+        cv = NaNMath.max(0.5, ex.emax + 1.0)
        expand_extrema!(axis, cv)
        push!(axis[:discrete_values], dv)
        push!(axis[:continuous_values], cv)
@@ -448,12 +572,12 @@ end
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------

 function pie_labels(sp::Subplot, series::Series)
-    d = series.d
-    if haskey(d,:x_discrete_indices)
-        dvals = sp.attr[:xaxis].d[:discrete_values]
-        [dvals[idx] for idx in d[:x_discrete_indices]]
+    plotattributes = series.plotattributes
+    if haskey(plotattributes,:x_discrete_indices)
+        dvals = sp.attr[:xaxis].plotattributes[:discrete_values]
+        [dvals[idx] for idx in plotattributes[:x_discrete_indices]]
    else
-        d[:x]
+        plotattributes[:x]
    end
 end

@@ -466,38 +590,141 @@ function axis_drawing_info(sp::Subplot)
    ymin, ymax = axis_limits(yaxis)
    xticks = get_ticks(xaxis)
    yticks = get_ticks(yaxis)
-    spine_segs = Segments(2)
-    grid_segs = Segments(2)
+    xminorticks = get_minor_ticks(xaxis,xticks)
+    yminorticks = get_minor_ticks(yaxis,yticks)
+    xaxis_segs = Segments(2)
+    yaxis_segs = Segments(2)
+    xtick_segs = Segments(2)
+    ytick_segs = Segments(2)
+    xgrid_segs = Segments(2)
+    ygrid_segs = Segments(2)
+    xminorgrid_segs = Segments(2)
+    yminorgrid_segs = Segments(2)
+    xborder_segs = Segments(2)
+    yborder_segs = Segments(2)

-    if !(xaxis[:ticks] in (nothing, false))
-        f = scalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
-        invf = invscalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
-        t1 = invf(f(ymin) + 0.015*(f(ymax)-f(ymin)))
-        t2 = invf(f(ymax) - 0.015*(f(ymax)-f(ymin)))
+    if sp[:framestyle] != :none
+        # xaxis
+        if xaxis[:showaxis]
+            if sp[:framestyle] != :grid
+                y1, y2 = if sp[:framestyle] in (:origin, :zerolines)
+                    0.0, 0.0
+                else
+                    xor(xaxis[:mirror], yaxis[:flip]) ? (ymax, ymin) : (ymin, ymax)
+                end
+                push!(xaxis_segs, (xmin, y1), (xmax, y1))
+                # don't show the 0 tick label for the origin framestyle
+                if sp[:framestyle] == :origin && !(xticks in (nothing,false)) && length(xticks) > 1
+                    showticks = xticks[1] .!= 0
+                    xticks = (xticks[1][showticks], xticks[2][showticks])
+                end
+            end
+            sp[:framestyle] in (:semi, :box) && push!(xborder_segs, (xmin, y2), (xmax, y2)) # top spine
+        end
+        if !(xaxis[:ticks] in (nothing, false))
+            f = scalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
+            invf = invscalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
+            ticks_in = xaxis[:tick_direction] == :out ? -1 : 1
+            t1 = invf(f(ymin) + 0.015 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)
+            t2 = invf(f(ymax) - 0.015 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)
+            t3 = invf(f(0) + 0.015 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)

-        push!(spine_segs, (xmin,ymin), (xmax,ymin)) # bottom spine
-        # push!(spine_segs, (xmin,ymax), (xmax,ymax)) # top spine
-        for xtick in xticks[1]
-            push!(spine_segs, (xtick, ymin), (xtick, t1)) # bottom tick
-            push!(grid_segs,  (xtick, t1),   (xtick, t2)) # vertical grid
-            # push!(spine_segs, (xtick, ymax), (xtick, t2)) # top tick
+            for xtick in xticks[1]
+                if xaxis[:showaxis]
+                    tick_start, tick_stop = if sp[:framestyle] == :origin
+                        (0, t3)
+                    else
+                        xor(xaxis[:mirror], yaxis[:flip]) ? (ymax, t2) : (ymin, t1)
+                    end
+                    push!(xtick_segs, (xtick, tick_start), (xtick, tick_stop)) # bottom tick
+                end
+                # sp[:draw_axes_border] && push!(xaxis_segs, (xtick, ymax), (xtick, t2)) # top tick
+                xaxis[:grid] && push!(xgrid_segs, (xtick, ymin), (xtick, ymax)) # vertical grid
+            end
+        end
+        if !(xaxis[:minorticks] in (nothing, false)) || xaxis[:minorgrid]
+            f = scalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
+            invf = invscalefunc(yaxis[:scale])
+            ticks_in = xaxis[:tick_direction] == :out ? -1 : 1
+            t1 = invf(f(ymin) + 0.01 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)
+            t2 = invf(f(ymax) - 0.01 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)
+            t3 = invf(f(0) + 0.01 * (f(ymax) - f(ymin)) * ticks_in)
+
+            for xminortick in xminorticks
+                if xaxis[:showaxis]
+                    tick_start, tick_stop = if sp[:framestyle] == :origin
+                        (0, t3)
+                    else
+                        xor(xaxis[:mirror], yaxis[:flip]) ? (ymax, t2) : (ymin, t1)
+                    end
+                    push!(xtick_segs, (xminortick, tick_start), (xminortick, tick_stop)) # bottom tick
+                end
+                # sp[:draw_axes_border] && push!(xaxis_segs, (xtick, ymax), (xtick, t2)) # top tick
+                xaxis[:minorgrid] && push!(xminorgrid_segs, (xminortick, ymin), (xminortick, ymax)) # vertical grid
+            end
+        end
+
+
+        # yaxis
+        if yaxis[:showaxis]
+            if sp[:framestyle] != :grid
+                x1, x2 = if sp[:framestyle] in (:origin, :zerolines)
+                    0.0, 0.0
+                else
+                    xor(yaxis[:mirror], xaxis[:flip]) ? (xmax, xmin) : (xmin, xmax)
+                end
+                push!(yaxis_segs, (x1, ymin), (x1, ymax))
+                # don't show the 0 tick label for the origin framestyle
+                if sp[:framestyle] == :origin && !(yticks in (nothing,false)) && length(yticks) > 1
+                    showticks = yticks[1] .!= 0
+                    yticks = (yticks[1][showticks], yticks[2][showticks])
+                end
+            end
+            sp[:framestyle] in (:semi, :box) && push!(yborder_segs, (x2, ymin), (x2, ymax)) # right spine
+        end
+        if !(yaxis[:ticks] in (nothing, false))
+            f = scalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
+            invf = invscalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
+            ticks_in = yaxis[:tick_direction] == :out ? -1 : 1
+            t1 = invf(f(xmin) + 0.015 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+            t2 = invf(f(xmax) - 0.015 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+            t3 = invf(f(0) + 0.015 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+
+            for ytick in yticks[1]
+                if yaxis[:showaxis]
+                    tick_start, tick_stop = if sp[:framestyle] == :origin
+                        (0, t3)
+                    else
+                        xor(yaxis[:mirror], xaxis[:flip]) ? (xmax, t2) : (xmin, t1)
+                    end
+                    push!(ytick_segs, (tick_start, ytick), (tick_stop, ytick)) # left tick
+                end
+                # sp[:draw_axes_border] && push!(yaxis_segs, (xmax, ytick), (t2, ytick)) # right tick
+                yaxis[:grid] && push!(ygrid_segs, (xmin, ytick), (xmax, ytick)) # horizontal grid
+            end
+        end
+        if !(yaxis[:minorticks] in (nothing, false)) || yaxis[:minorgrid]
+            f = scalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
+            invf = invscalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
+            ticks_in = yaxis[:tick_direction] == :out ? -1 : 1
+            t1 = invf(f(xmin) + 0.01 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+            t2 = invf(f(xmax) - 0.01 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+            t3 = invf(f(0) + 0.01 * (f(xmax) - f(xmin)) * ticks_in)
+
+            for ytick in yminorticks
+                if yaxis[:showaxis]
+                    tick_start, tick_stop = if sp[:framestyle] == :origin
+                        (0, t3)
+                    else
+                        xor(yaxis[:mirror], xaxis[:flip]) ? (xmax, t2) : (xmin, t1)
+                    end
+                    push!(ytick_segs, (tick_start, ytick), (tick_stop, ytick)) # left tick
+                end
+                # sp[:draw_axes_border] && push!(yaxis_segs, (xmax, ytick), (t2, ytick)) # right tick
+                yaxis[:minorgrid] && push!(yminorgrid_segs, (xmin, ytick), (xmax, ytick)) # horizontal grid
+            end
        end
    end

-    if !(yaxis[:ticks] in (nothing, false))
-        f = scalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
-        invf = invscalefunc(xaxis[:scale])
-        t1 = invf(f(xmin) + 0.015*(f(xmax)-f(xmin)))
-        t2 = invf(f(xmax) - 0.015*(f(xmax)-f(xmin)))
-
-        push!(spine_segs, (xmin,ymin), (xmin,ymax)) # left spine
-        # push!(spine_segs, (xmax,ymin), (xmax,ymax)) # right spine
-        for ytick in yticks[1]
-            push!(spine_segs, (xmin, ytick), (t1, ytick)) # left tick
-            push!(grid_segs,  (t1, ytick),   (t2, ytick)) # horizontal grid
-            # push!(spine_segs, (xmax, ytick), (t2, ytick)) # right tick
-        end
-    end
-
-    xticks, yticks, spine_segs, grid_segs
+    xticks, yticks, xaxis_segs, yaxis_segs, xtick_segs, ytick_segs, xgrid_segs, ygrid_segs, xminorgrid_segs, yminorgrid_segs, xborder_segs, yborder_segs
 end
@@ -1,42 +1,52 @@
+using Pkg

-immutable NoBackend <: AbstractBackend end
+struct NoBackend <: AbstractBackend end

 const _backendType = Dict{Symbol, DataType}(:none => NoBackend)
 const _backendSymbol = Dict{DataType, Symbol}(NoBackend => :none)
 const _backends = Symbol[]
 const _initialized_backends = Set{Symbol}()
+const _default_backends = (:none, :gr, :plotly)
+const _backendPackage = Dict{Symbol, Symbol}()

+"Returns a list of supported backends"
 backends() = _backends
+
+"Returns the name of the current backend"
 backend_name() = CURRENT_BACKEND.sym
 _backend_instance(sym::Symbol) = haskey(_backendType, sym) ? _backendType[sym]() : error("Unsupported backend $sym")
+backend_package(pkg::Symbol) = pkg in _default_backends ? :Plots : Symbol("Plots", _backendPackage[pkg])
+backend_package_name(sym::Symbol) = sym in _default_backends ? :Plots : _backendPackage[sym]

 macro init_backend(s)
-    str = lowercase(string(s))
+    package_str = string(s)
+    str = lowercase(package_str)
    sym = Symbol(str)
    T = Symbol(string(s) * "Backend")
    esc(quote
-        immutable $T <: AbstractBackend end
+        struct $T <: AbstractBackend end
        export $sym
        $sym(; kw...) = (default(; kw...); backend(Symbol($str)))
        backend_name(::$T) = Symbol($str)
+        backend_package_name(pkg::$T) = backend_package_name(Symbol($str))
        push!(_backends, Symbol($str))
        _backendType[Symbol($str)] = $T
        _backendSymbol[$T] = Symbol($str)
-        include("backends/" * $str * ".jl")
+        _backendPackage[Symbol($str)] = Symbol($package_str)
+        # include("backends/" * $str * ".jl")
    end)
 end

-include("backends/web.jl")
+# include("backends/web.jl")
 # include("backends/supported.jl")

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

 function add_backend(pkg::Symbol)
-    info("To do a standard install of $pkg, copy and run this:\n\n")
+    @info("To do a standard install of $pkg, copy and run this:\n\n")
    println(add_backend_string(_backend_instance(pkg)))
    println()
 end
-add_backend_string(b::AbstractBackend) = warn("No custom install defined for $(backend_name(b))")

 # don't do anything as a default
 _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot) = nothing
@@ -48,8 +58,8 @@ _series_updated(plt::Plot, series::Series) = nothing

 _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot) = nothing

-title_padding(sp::Subplot) = sp[:title] == "" ? 0mm : sp[:titlefont].pointsize * pt
-guide_padding(axis::Axis) = axis[:guide] == "" ? 0mm : axis[:guidefont].pointsize * pt
+title_padding(sp::Subplot) = sp[:title] == "" ? 0mm : sp[:titlefontsize] * pt
+guide_padding(axis::Axis) = axis[:guide] == "" ? 0mm : axis[:guidefontsize] * pt

 "Returns the (width,height) of a text label."
 function text_size(lablen::Int, sz::Number, rot::Number = 0)
@@ -90,7 +100,7 @@ function tick_padding(axis::Axis)
        # hgt

        # get the height of the rotated label
-        text_size(longest_label, axis[:tickfont].pointsize, rot)[2]
+        text_size(longest_label, axis[:tickfontsize], rot)[2]
    end
 end

@@ -120,7 +130,7 @@ _update_plot_object(plt::Plot) = nothing
 # ---------------------------------------------------------


-type CurrentBackend
+mutable struct CurrentBackend
  sym::Symbol
  pkg::AbstractBackend
 end
@@ -131,31 +141,30 @@ CurrentBackend(sym::Symbol) = CurrentBackend(sym, _backend_instance(sym))
 function pickDefaultBackend()
    env_default = get(ENV, "PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND", "")
    if env_default != ""
-        try
-            Pkg.installed(env_default)  # this will error if not installed
-            sym = Symbol(lowercase(env_default))
-            if haskey(_backendType, sym)
+        sym = Symbol(lowercase(env_default))
+        if sym in _backends
+            if sym in _initialized_backends
                return backend(sym)
            else
-                warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not a valid backend package.  Choose from:\n\t",
-                     join(sort(_backends), "\n\t"))
+                @warn("You have set `PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default` but `$(backend_package_name(sym))` is not loaded.")
            end
-        catch
-            warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not installed.")
+        else
+            @warn("You have set PLOTS_DEFAULT_BACKEND=$env_default but it is not a valid backend package.  Choose from:\n\t",
+                 join(sort(_backends), "\n\t"))
        end
    end

    # the ordering/inclusion of this package list is my semi-arbitrary guess at
    # which one someone will want to use if they have the package installed...accounting for
    # features, speed, and robustness
-    for pkgstr in ("PyPlot", "GR", "PlotlyJS", "Immerse", "Gadfly", "UnicodePlots")
-        if Pkg.installed(pkgstr) != nothing
-            return backend(Symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
-        end
-    end
+    # for pkgstr in ("GR", "PyPlot", "PlotlyJS", "PGFPlots", "UnicodePlots", "InspectDR", "GLVisualize")
+    #     if pkgstr in keys(Pkg.installed())
+    #         return backend(Symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
+    #     end
+    # end

    # the default if nothing else is installed
-    backend(:plotly)
+    backend(:gr)
 end


@@ -171,24 +180,6 @@ function backend()
    pickDefaultBackend()
  end

-  sym = CURRENT_BACKEND.sym
-  if !(sym in _initialized_backends)
-
-    # # initialize
-    # println("[Plots.jl] Initializing backend: ", sym)
-
-    inst = _backend_instance(sym)
-    try
-      _initialize_backend(inst)
-    catch err
-      warn("Couldn't initialize $sym.  (might need to install it?)")
-      add_backend(sym)
-      rethrow(err)
-    end
-
-    push!(_initialized_backends, sym)
-
-  end
  CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg
 end

@@ -196,16 +187,29 @@ end
 Set the plot backend.
 """
 function backend(pkg::AbstractBackend)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
-    warn_on_deprecated_backend(CURRENT_BACKEND.sym)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+    sym = backend_name(pkg)
+    if sym in _initialized_backends
+        CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
+        CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+    else
+        # try
+            _initialize_backend(pkg)
+            push!(_initialized_backends, sym)
+            CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = backend_name(pkg)
+            CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = pkg
+        # catch
+        #     add_backend(sym)
+        # end
+    end
    backend()
 end

-function backend(modname::Symbol)
-    warn_on_deprecated_backend(modname)
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.sym = modname
-    CURRENT_BACKEND.pkg = _backend_instance(modname)
+function backend(sym::Symbol)
+    if sym in _backends
+        backend(_backend_instance(sym))
+    else
+        @warn("`:$sym` is not a supported backend.")
+    end
    backend()
 end

@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@ const _deprecated_backends = [:qwt, :winston, :bokeh, :gadfly, :immerse]

 function warn_on_deprecated_backend(bsym::Symbol)
    if bsym in _deprecated_backends
-        warn("Backend $bsym has been deprecated.  It may not work as originally intended.")
+        @warn("Backend $bsym has been deprecated.  It may not work as originally intended.")
    end
 end

@@ -277,6 +281,7 @@ end
@init_backend GLVisualize
@init_backend PGFPlots
@init_backend InspectDR
+@init_backend HDF5

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

@@ -304,3 +309,112 @@ end

 # is_subplot_supported(::AbstractBackend) = false
 # is_subplot_supported() = is_subplot_supported(backend())
+
+
+################################################################################
+# initialize the backends
+
+function _initialize_backend(pkg::AbstractBackend)
+    sym = backend_package_name(pkg)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import $sym
+        export $sym
+    end
+end
+
+function add_backend_string(pkg::AbstractBackend)
+    sym = backend_package_name(pkg)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("$sym")
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# glvisualize
+
+function _initialize_backend(::GLVisualizeBackend; kw...)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import GLVisualize, GeometryTypes, Reactive, GLAbstraction, GLWindow, Contour
+        import GeometryTypes: Point2f0, Point3f0, Vec2f0, Vec3f0, GLNormalMesh, SimpleRectangle, Point, Vec
+        import FileIO, Images
+        export GLVisualize
+        import Reactive: Signal
+        import GLAbstraction: Style
+        import GLVisualize: visualize
+        import Plots.GL
+        import UnicodeFun
+    end
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# hdf5
+
+function _initialize_backend(::HDF5Backend)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import HDF5
+        export HDF5
+    end
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# PGFPLOTS
+
+function add_backend_string(::PGFPlotsBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PGFPlots")
+    Pkg.build("PGFPlots")
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# plotlyjs
+
+function add_backend_string(::PlotlyJSBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PlotlyJS")
+    Pkg.add("Rsvg")
+    import Blink
+    Blink.AtomShell.install()
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# pyplot
+
+function _initialize_backend(::PyPlotBackend)
+    @eval Main begin
+        import PyPlot, PyCall
+        import LaTeXStrings
+
+        export PyPlot
+
+        # we don't want every command to update the figure
+        PyPlot.ioff()
+    end
+end
+
+function add_backend_string(::PyPlotBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("PyPlot")
+    Pkg.add("PyCall")
+    Pkg.add("LaTeXStrings")
+    withenv("PYTHON" => "") do
+        Pkg.build("PyCall")
+        Pkg.build("PyPlot")
+    end
+    """
+end
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# unicodeplots
+function add_backend_string(::UnicodePlotsBackend)
+    """
+    using Pkg
+    Pkg.add("UnicodePlots")
+    Pkg.build("UnicodePlots")
+    """
+end
@@ -0,0 +1,649 @@
+#HDF5 Plots: Save/replay plots to/from HDF5
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#==Usage
+===============================================================================
+Write to .hdf5 file using:
+    p = plot(...)
+   Plots.hdf5plot_write(p, "plotsave.hdf5")
+
+Read from .hdf5 file using:
+    pyplot() #Must first select backend
+    pread = Plots.hdf5plot_read("plotsave.hdf5")
+    display(pread)
+==#
+
+
+#==TODO
+===============================================================================
+ 1. Support more features
+    - SeriesAnnotations & GridLayout known to be missing.
+ 3. Improve error handling.
+    - Will likely crash if file format is off.
+ 2. Save data in a folder parallel to "plot".
+    - Will make it easier for users to locate data.
+    - Use HDF5 reference to link data?
+ 3. Develop an actual versioned file format.
+    - Should have some form of backward compatibility.
+    - Should be reliable for archival purposes.
+==#
+
+import FixedPointNumbers: N0f8 #In core Julia
+
+#Dispatch types:
+struct HDF5PlotNative; end #Indentifies a data element that can natively be handled by HDF5
+struct HDF5CTuple; end #Identifies a "complex" tuple structure
+
+mutable struct HDF5Plot_PlotRef
+	ref::Union{Plot, Nothing}
+end
+
+
+#==Useful constants
+===============================================================================#
+const _hdf5_nullable{T} = Union{T, Nothing}
+const _hdf5_plotroot = "plot"
+const _hdf5_dataroot = "data" #TODO: Eventually move data to different root (easier to locate)?
+const _hdf5plot_datatypeid = "TYPE" #Attribute identifying type
+const _hdf5plot_countid = "COUNT" #Attribute for storing count
+
+#Dict has problems using "Types" as keys.  Initialize in "_initialize_backend":
+const HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM = Dict{String, Type}()
+const HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR = Dict{Type, String}()
+
+#Don't really like this global variable... Very hacky
+const HDF5PLOT_PLOTREF = HDF5Plot_PlotRef(nothing)
+
+#Simple sub-structures that can just be written out using _hdf5plot_gwritefields:
+const HDF5PLOT_SIMPLESUBSTRUCT = Union{Font, BoundingBox,
+	GridLayout, RootLayout, ColorGradient, SeriesAnnotations, PlotText
+}
+
+
+#==
+===============================================================================#
+
+const _hdf5_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
+    :annotations,
+    :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
+    :foreground_color_grid, :foreground_color_legend, :foreground_color_title,
+    :foreground_color_axis, :foreground_color_border, :foreground_color_guide, :foreground_color_text,
+    :label,
+    :linecolor, :linestyle, :linewidth, :linealpha,
+    :markershape, :markercolor, :markersize, :markeralpha,
+    :markerstrokewidth, :markerstrokecolor, :markerstrokealpha,
+    :fillrange, :fillcolor, :fillalpha,
+    :bins, :bar_width, :bar_edges, :bar_position,
+    :title, :title_location, :titlefont,
+    :window_title,
+    :guide, :lims, :ticks, :scale, :flip, :rotation,
+    :tickfont, :guidefont, :legendfont,
+    :grid, :legend, :colorbar,
+    :marker_z, :line_z, :fill_z,
+    :levels,
+    :ribbon, :quiver, :arrow,
+    :orientation,
+    :overwrite_figure,
+    :polar,
+    :normalize, :weights,
+    :contours, :aspect_ratio,
+    :match_dimensions,
+    :clims,
+    :inset_subplots,
+    :dpi,
+    :colorbar_title,
+  ])
+const _hdf5_seriestype = [
+        :path, :steppre, :steppost, :shape, :straightline,
+        :scatter, :hexbin, #:histogram2d, :histogram,
+        # :bar,
+        :heatmap, :pie, :image,
+        :contour, :contour3d, :path3d, :scatter3d, :surface, :wireframe
+    ]
+const _hdf5_style = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot]
+const _hdf5_marker = vcat(_allMarkers, :pixel)
+const _hdf5_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]
+is_marker_supported(::HDF5Backend, shape::Shape) = true
+
+if length(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR) < 1
+    #Possible element types of high-level data types:
+    telem2str = Dict{String, Type}(
+        "NATIVE" => HDF5PlotNative,
+        "VOID" => Nothing,
+        "BOOL" => Bool,
+        "SYMBOL" => Symbol,
+        "TUPLE" => Tuple,
+        "CTUPLE" => HDF5CTuple, #Tuple of complex structures
+        "RGBA" => ARGB{N0f8},
+        "EXTREMA" => Extrema,
+        "LENGTH" => Length,
+        "ARRAY" => Array, #Dict won't allow Array to be key in HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR
+
+        #Sub-structure types:
+        "FONT" => Font,
+        "BOUNDINGBOX" => BoundingBox,
+        "GRIDLAYOUT" => GridLayout,
+        "ROOTLAYOUT" => RootLayout,
+        "SERIESANNOTATIONS" => SeriesAnnotations,
+#                "PLOTTEXT" => PlotText,
+        "COLORGRADIENT" => ColorGradient,
+        "AXIS" => Axis,
+        "SURFACE" => Surface,
+        "SUBPLOT" => Subplot,
+        "NULLABLE" => _hdf5_nullable,
+    )
+    merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM, telem2str)
+    merge!(HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR, Dict{Type, String}(v=>k for (k,v) in HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM))
+end
+
+
+#==Helper functions
+===============================================================================#
+
+_hdf5_plotelempath(subpath::String) = "$_hdf5_plotroot/$subpath"
+_hdf5_datapath(subpath::String) = "$_hdf5_dataroot/$subpath"
+_hdf5_map_str2telem(k::String) = HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM[k]
+_hdf5_map_str2telem(v::Vector) = HDF5PLOT_MAP_STR2TELEM[v[1]]
+
+function _hdf5_merge!(dest::Dict, src::Dict)
+    for (k, v) in src
+        if isa(v, Axis)
+            _hdf5_merge!(dest[k].plotattributes, v.plotattributes)
+        else
+            dest[k] = v
+        end
+    end
+    return
+end
+
+
+#==
+===============================================================================#
+
+
+# Create the window/figure for this backend.
+function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# # this is called early in the pipeline, use it to make the plot current or something
+# function _prepare_plot_object(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
+# end
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Set up the subplot within the backend object.
+function _initialize_subplot(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend}, sp::Subplot{HDF5Backend})
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Add one series to the underlying backend object.
+# Called once per series
+# NOTE: Seems to be called when user calls plot()... even if backend
+#       plot, sp.o has not yet been constructed...
+function _series_added(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend}, series::Series)
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# When series data is added/changed, this callback can do dynamic updates to the backend object.
+# note: if the backend rebuilds the plot from scratch on display, then you might not do anything here.
+function _series_updated(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend}, series::Series)
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# called just before updating layout bounding boxes... in case you need to prep
+# for the calcs
+function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Set the (left, top, right, bottom) minimum padding around the plot area
+# to fit ticks, tick labels, guides, colorbars, etc.
+function _update_min_padding!(sp::Subplot{HDF5Backend})
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (plotattributes[:annotations])
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
+    #Do nothing
+end
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Display/show the plot (open a GUI window, or browser page, for example).
+function _display(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend})
+    msg = "HDF5 interface does not support `display()` function."
+    msg *= "\nUse `Plots.hdf5plot_write(::String)` method to write to .HDF5 \"plot\" file instead."
+    @warn(msg)
+    return
+end
+
+
+#==HDF5 write functions
+===============================================================================#
+
+function _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k::String, tstr::Array{String})
+    d = HDF5.d_open(grp, k)
+    HDF5.a_write(d, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k::String, T::Type)
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[T]
+    d = HDF5.d_open(grp, k)
+    HDF5.a_write(d, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_overwritetype(grp, k::String, T::Type)
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[T]
+    d = HDF5.d_open(grp, k)
+    HDF5.a_delete(d, _hdf5plot_datatypeid)
+    HDF5.a_write(d, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, T::Type) #Write directly to group
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[T]
+    HDF5.a_write(grp, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_overwritetype(grp, T::Type) #Write directly to group
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[T]
+    HDF5.a_delete(grp, _hdf5plot_datatypeid)
+    HDF5.a_write(grp, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, ::Type{Array{T}}) where T<:Any
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[Array] #ANY
+    HDF5.a_write(grp, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, ::Type{T}) where T<:BoundingBox
+    tstr = HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[BoundingBox]
+    HDF5.a_write(grp, _hdf5plot_datatypeid, tstr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_writecount(grp, n::Int) #Write directly to group
+    HDF5.a_write(grp, _hdf5plot_countid, n)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwritefields(grp, k::String, v)
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(grp, k)
+    for _k in fieldnames(typeof(v))
+        _v = getfield(v, _k)
+        kstr = string(_k)
+        _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, kstr, _v)
+    end
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, typeof(v))
+    return
+end
+
+# Write data
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v) #Default
+    grp[k] = v
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, HDF5PlotNative)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Array{T}) where T<:Number #Default for arrays
+    grp[k] = v
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, HDF5PlotNative)
+end
+#=
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Array{Any})
+#    @show grp, k
+    @warn("Cannot write Array: $k=$v")
+end
+=#
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Nothing)
+    grp[k] = 0
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, Nothing)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Bool)
+    grp[k] = Int(v)
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, Bool)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Symbol)
+    grp[k] = string(v)
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, Symbol)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Tuple)
+    varr = [v...]
+    elt = eltype(varr)
+#    if isleaftype(elt)
+
+    _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, varr)
+    if elt <: Number
+        #We just wrote a simple dataset
+        _hdf5plot_overwritetype(grp, k, Tuple)
+    else #Used a more complex scheme (using subgroups):
+        _hdf5plot_overwritetype(grp[k], HDF5CTuple)
+    end
+    #NOTE: _hdf5plot_overwritetype overwrites "Array" type with "Tuple".
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, plotattributes::Dict)
+#    @warn("Cannot write dict: $k=$plotattributes")
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::AbstractRange)
+    _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, collect(v)) #For now
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::ARGB{N0f8})
+    grp[k] = [v.r.i, v.g.i, v.b.i, v.alpha.i]
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, ARGB{N0f8})
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Colorant)
+    _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, ARGB{N0f8}(v))
+end
+#Custom vector (when not using simple numeric type):
+function _hdf5plot_gwritearray(grp, k::String, v::Array{T}) where T
+    if "annotations" == k;
+        return #Hack.  Does not yet support annotations.
+    end
+
+    vgrp = HDF5.g_create(grp, k)
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(vgrp, Array) #ANY
+    sz = size(v)
+    lidx = LinearIndices(sz)
+
+    for iter in eachindex(v)
+        coord = lidx[iter]
+        elem = v[iter]
+        idxstr = join(coord, "_")
+        _hdf5plot_gwrite(vgrp, "v$idxstr", v[iter])
+    end
+
+    _hdf5plot_gwrite(vgrp, "dim", [sz...])
+    return
+end
+_hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Array) =
+	_hdf5plot_gwritearray(grp, k, v)
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Extrema)
+    grp[k] = [v.emin, v.emax]
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, Extrema)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Length{T}) where T
+    grp[k] = v.value
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, k, [HDF5PLOT_MAP_TELEM2STR[Length], string(T)])
+end
+
+# Write more complex structures:
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Plot)
+    #Don't write plot references
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::HDF5PLOT_SIMPLESUBSTRUCT)
+    _hdf5plot_gwritefields(grp, k, v)
+    return
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Axis)
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(grp, k)
+    for (_k, _v) in v.plotattributes
+        kstr = string(_k)
+        _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, kstr, _v)
+    end
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, Axis)
+    return
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Surface)
+	grp = HDF5.g_create(grp, k)
+	_hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, "data2d", v.surf)
+	_hdf5plot_writetype(grp, Surface)
+end
+# #TODO: "Properly" support Nullable using _hdf5plot_writetype?
+# function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::_hdf5_nullable)
+#     if isnull(v)
+#         _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, nothing)
+#     else
+#         _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k, v.value)
+#     end
+#     return
+# end
+
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::SeriesAnnotations)
+    #Currently no support for SeriesAnnotations
+    return
+end
+function _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, k::String, v::Subplot)
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(grp, k)
+    _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, "index", v[:subplot_index])
+    _hdf5plot_writetype(grp, Subplot)
+    return
+end
+function _hdf5plot_write(grp, plotattributes::Dict)
+    for (k, v) in plotattributes
+        kstr = string(k)
+        _hdf5plot_gwrite(grp, kstr, v)
+    end
+    return
+end
+
+# Write main plot structures:
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function _hdf5plot_write(sp::Subplot{HDF5Backend}, subpath::String, f)
+    f = f::HDF5.HDF5File #Assert
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/attr"))
+    _hdf5plot_write(grp, sp.attr)
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/series_list"))
+    _hdf5plot_writecount(grp, length(sp.series_list))
+    for (i, series) in enumerate(sp.series_list)
+        grp = HDF5.g_create(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/series_list/series$i"))
+        _hdf5plot_write(grp, series.plotattributes)
+    end
+
+    return
+end
+
+function _hdf5plot_write(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend}, f)
+    f = f::HDF5.HDF5File #Assert
+
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("attr"))
+    _hdf5plot_write(grp, plt.attr)
+
+    grp = HDF5.g_create(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("subplots"))
+    _hdf5plot_writecount(grp, length(plt.subplots))
+
+    for (i, sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
+        _hdf5plot_write(sp, "subplots/subplot$i", f)
+    end
+
+    return
+end
+function hdf5plot_write(plt::Plot{HDF5Backend}, path::AbstractString)
+    HDF5.h5open(path, "w") do file
+        _hdf5plot_write(plt, file)
+    end
+end
+hdf5plot_write(path::AbstractString) = hdf5plot_write(current(), path)
+
+
+#==HDF5 playback (read) functions
+===============================================================================#
+
+function _hdf5plot_readcount(grp) #Read directly from group
+    return HDF5.a_read(grp, _hdf5plot_countid)
+end
+
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{HDF5PlotNative}, v) = v
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{Nothing}, v) = nothing
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{Bool}, v) = (v!=0)
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{Symbol}, v) = Symbol(v)
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{Tuple}, v) = tuple(v...) #With Vector{T<:Number}
+function _hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{ARGB{N0f8}}, v)
+    r, g, b, a = reinterpret(N0f8, v)
+    return Colors.ARGB{N0f8}(r, g, b, a)
+end
+_hdf5plot_convert(T::Type{Extrema}, v) = Extrema(v[1], v[2])
+
+# Read data structures:
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type, dtid)
+    v = HDF5.d_read(grp, k)
+    return _hdf5plot_convert(T, v)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Length}, dtid::Vector)
+    v = HDF5.d_read(grp, k)
+    TU = Symbol(dtid[2])
+    T = typeof(v)
+    return Length{TU,T}(v)
+end
+
+# Read more complex data structures:
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Font}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+
+    family = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "family")
+    pointsize = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "pointsize")
+    halign = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "halign")
+    valign = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "valign")
+    rotation = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "rotation")
+    color = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "color")
+    return Font(family, pointsize, halign, valign, rotation, color)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Array}, dtid) #ANY
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+    sz = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "dim")
+    if [0] == sz; return []; end
+    sz = tuple(sz...)
+    result = Array{Any}(undef, sz)
+    lidx = LinearIndices(sz)
+
+    for iter in eachindex(result)
+        coord = lidx[iter]
+        idxstr = join(coord, "_")
+        result[iter] = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "v$idxstr")
+    end
+
+    #Hack: Implicitly make Julia detect element type.
+    #      (Should probably write it explicitly to file)
+    result = [result[iter] for iter in eachindex(result)] #Potentially make more specific
+    return reshape(result, sz)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{HDF5CTuple}, dtid)
+    v = _hdf5plot_read(grp, k, Array, dtid)
+    return tuple(v...)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{ColorGradient}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+
+    colors = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "colors")
+    values = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "values")
+    return ColorGradient(colors, values)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{BoundingBox}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+
+    x0 = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "x0")
+    a = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "a")
+    return BoundingBox(x0, a)
+end
+_hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{RootLayout}, dtid) = RootLayout()
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{GridLayout}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+
+#    parent = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "parent")
+parent = RootLayout()
+    minpad = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "minpad")
+    bbox = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "bbox")
+    grid = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "grid")
+    widths = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "widths")
+    heights = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "heights")
+    attr = KW() #TODO support attr: _hdf5plot_read(grp, "attr")
+
+    return GridLayout(parent, minpad, bbox, grid, widths, heights, attr)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Axis}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+    kwlist = KW()
+    _hdf5plot_read(grp, kwlist)
+    return Axis([], kwlist)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Surface}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+    data2d = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "data2d")
+    return Surface(data2d)
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String, T::Type{Subplot}, dtid)
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(grp, k)
+    idx = _hdf5plot_read(grp, "index")
+    return HDF5PLOT_PLOTREF.ref.subplots[idx]
+end
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, k::String)
+    dtid = HDF5.a_read(grp[k], _hdf5plot_datatypeid)
+    T = _hdf5_map_str2telem(dtid) #expect exception
+    return _hdf5plot_read(grp, k, T, dtid)
+end
+
+#Read in values in group to populate plotattributes:
+function _hdf5plot_read(grp, plotattributes::Dict)
+    gnames = names(grp)
+    for k in gnames
+        try
+            v = _hdf5plot_read(grp, k)
+            plotattributes[Symbol(k)] = v
+        catch e
+            @show e
+            @show grp
+            @warn("Could not read field $k")
+        end
+    end
+    return
+end
+
+# Read main plot structures:
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function _hdf5plot_read(sp::Subplot, subpath::String, f)
+    f = f::HDF5.HDF5File #Assert
+
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/attr"))
+    kwlist = KW()
+    _hdf5plot_read(grp, kwlist)
+    _hdf5_merge!(sp.attr, kwlist)
+
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/series_list"))
+    nseries = _hdf5plot_readcount(grp)
+
+    for i in 1:nseries
+        grp = HDF5.g_open(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("$subpath/series_list/series$i"))
+        kwlist = KW()
+        _hdf5plot_read(grp, kwlist)
+        plot!(sp, kwlist[:x], kwlist[:y]) #Add data & create data structures
+        _hdf5_merge!(sp.series_list[end].plotattributes, kwlist)
+    end
+
+    return
+end
+
+function _hdf5plot_read(plt::Plot, f)
+    f = f::HDF5.HDF5File #Assert
+    #Assumpltion: subplots are already allocated (plt.subplots)
+
+    HDF5PLOT_PLOTREF.ref = plt #Used when reading "layout"
+    grp = HDF5.g_open(f, _hdf5_plotelempath("attr"))
+    _hdf5plot_read(grp, plt.attr)
+
+    for (i, sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
+        _hdf5plot_read(sp, "subplots/subplot$i", f)
+    end
+
+    return
+end
+
+function hdf5plot_read(path::AbstractString)
+    plt = nothing
+    HDF5.h5open(path, "r") do file
+        grp = HDF5.g_open(file, _hdf5_plotelempath("subplots"))
+        n = _hdf5plot_readcount(grp)
+        plt = plot(layout=n) #Get reference to a new plot
+        _hdf5plot_read(plt, file)
+    end
+    return plt
+end
+
+#Last line
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ Add in functionality to Plots.jl:
 const _inspectdr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
    :annotations,
    :background_color_legend, :background_color_inside, :background_color_outside,
-    :foreground_color_grid, :foreground_color_legend, :foreground_color_title,
+    # :foreground_color_grid,
+    :foreground_color_legend, :foreground_color_title,
    :foreground_color_axis, :foreground_color_border, :foreground_color_guide, :foreground_color_text,
    :label,
    :linecolor, :linestyle, :linewidth, :linealpha,
@@ -27,10 +28,13 @@ const _inspectdr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
    :markerstrokestyle, #Causes warning not to have it... what is this?
    :fillcolor, :fillalpha, #:fillrange,
 #    :bins, :bar_width, :bar_edges, :bar_position,
-    :title, :title_location, :titlefont,
+    :title, :title_location,
    :window_title,
    :guide, :lims, :scale, #:ticks, :flip, :rotation,
-    :tickfont, :guidefont, :legendfont,
+    :titlefontfamily, :titlefontsize, :titlefontcolor,
+    :legendfontfamily, :legendfontsize, :legendfontcolor,
+    :tickfontfamily, :tickfontsize, :tickfontcolor,
+    :guidefontfamily, :guidefontsize, :guidefontcolor,
    :grid, :legend, #:colorbar,
 #    :marker_z,
 #    :line_z,
@@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ const _inspectdr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
 #   :ribbon, :quiver, :arrow,
 #    :orientation,
    :overwrite_figure,
-#    :polar,
+    :polar,
 #    :normalize, :weights,
 #    :contours, :aspect_ratio,
    :match_dimensions,
@@ -49,7 +53,7 @@ const _inspectdr_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
  ])
 const _inspectdr_style = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot]
 const _inspectdr_seriestype = [
-        :path, :scatter, :shape #, :steppre, :steppost
+        :path, :scatter, :shape, :straightline, #, :steppre, :steppost
    ]
 #see: _allMarkers, _shape_keys
 const _inspectdr_marker = Symbol[
@@ -66,6 +70,9 @@ const _inspectdr_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]

 is_marker_supported(::InspectDRBackend, shape::Shape) = true

+_inspectdr_to_pixels(bb::BoundingBox) =
+    InspectDR.BoundingBox(to_pixels(left(bb)), to_pixels(right(bb)), to_pixels(top(bb)), to_pixels(bottom(bb)))
+
 #Do we avoid Map to avoid possible pre-comile issues?
 function _inspectdr_mapglyph(s::Symbol)
    s == :rect && return :square
@@ -79,24 +86,24 @@ end

 # py_marker(markers::AVec) = map(py_marker, markers)
 function _inspectdr_mapglyph(markers::AVec)
-    warn("Vectors of markers are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
+    @warn("Vectors of markers are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
    _inspectdr_mapglyph(markers[1])
 end

 _inspectdr_mapglyphsize(v::Real) = v
 function _inspectdr_mapglyphsize(v::Vector)
-    warn("Vectors of marker sizes are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
+    @warn("Vectors of marker sizes are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
    _inspectdr_mapglyphsize(v[1])
 end

 _inspectdr_mapcolor(v::Colorant) = v
 function _inspectdr_mapcolor(g::PlotUtils.ColorGradient)
-    warn("Color gradients are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
+    @warn("Color gradients are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
    #Pick middle color:
    _inspectdr_mapcolor(g.colors[div(1+end,2)])
 end
 function _inspectdr_mapcolor(v::AVec)
-    warn("Vectors of colors are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
+    @warn("Vectors of colors are currently unsupported in InspectDR.")
    #Pick middle color:
    _inspectdr_mapcolor(v[div(1+end,2)])
 end
@@ -125,52 +132,39 @@ end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-function _inspectdr_getscale(s::Symbol)
+function _inspectdr_getscale(s::Symbol, yaxis::Bool)
 #TODO: Support :asinh, :sqrt
+    kwargs = yaxis ? (:tgtmajor=>8, :tgtminor=>2) : () #More grid lines on y-axis
    if :log2 == s
-        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:log2)
+        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:log2; kwargs...)
    elseif :log10 == s
-        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:log10)
+        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:log10; kwargs...)
    elseif :ln == s
-        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:ln)
+        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:ln; kwargs...)
    else #identity
-        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:lin)
+        return InspectDR.AxisScale(:lin; kwargs...)
    end
 end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-function add_backend_string(::InspectDRBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("InspectDR")
-        Pkg.add("InspectDR")
-    end
-    """
+#Glyph used when plotting "Shape"s:
+INSPECTDR_GLYPH_SHAPE = InspectDR.GlyphPolyline(
+    2*InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.x, InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.y
+)
+
+mutable struct InspecDRPlotRef
+    mplot::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.Multiplot}
+    gui::Union{Nothing, InspectDR.GtkPlot}
 end

-function _initialize_backend(::InspectDRBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import InspectDR
-        export InspectDR
+_inspectdr_getmplot(::Any) = nothing
+_inspectdr_getmplot(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = r.mplot

-        #Glyph used when plotting "Shape"s:
-        const INSPECTDR_GLYPH_SHAPE = InspectDR.GlyphPolyline(
-            2*InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.x, InspectDR.GLYPH_SQUARE.y
-        )
-
-        type InspecDRPlotRef
-            mplot::Union{Void, InspectDR.Multiplot}
-            gui::Union{Void, InspectDR.GtkPlot}
-        end
-
-        _inspectdr_getmplot(::Any) = nothing
-        _inspectdr_getmplot(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = r.mplot
-
-        _inspectdr_getgui(::Any) = nothing
-        _inspectdr_getgui(gplot::InspectDR.GtkPlot) = (gplot.destroyed? nothing: gplot)
-        _inspectdr_getgui(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = _inspectdr_getgui(r.gui)
-    end
-end
+_inspectdr_getgui(::Any) = nothing
+_inspectdr_getgui(gplot::InspectDR.GtkPlot) = (gplot.destroyed ? nothing : gplot)
+_inspectdr_getgui(r::InspecDRPlotRef) = _inspectdr_getgui(r.gui)
+push!(_initialized_backends, :inspectdr)

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -209,14 +203,10 @@ end
 # Set up the subplot within the backend object.
 function _initialize_subplot(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend}, sp::Subplot{InspectDRBackend})
    plot = sp.o
-
    #Don't do anything without a "subplot" object:  Will process later.
    if nothing == plot; return; end
    plot.data = []
-    plot.markers = [] #Clear old markers
-    plot.atext = [] #Clear old annotation
-    plot.apline = [] #Clear old poly lines
-
+    plot.userannot = [] #Clear old markers/text annotation/polyline "annotation"
    return plot
 end

@@ -234,8 +224,18 @@ function _series_added(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend}, series::Series)
    #Don't do anything without a "subplot" object:  Will process later.
    if nothing == plot; return; end

-    _vectorize(v) = isa(v, Vector)? v: collect(v) #InspectDR only supports vectors
-    x = _vectorize(series[:x]); y = _vectorize(series[:y])
+    _vectorize(v) = isa(v, Vector) ? v : collect(v) #InspectDR only supports vectors
+    x, y = if st == :straightline
+        straightline_data(series)
+    else
+        _vectorize(series[:x]), _vectorize(series[:y])
+    end
+
+    #No support for polar grid... but can still perform polar transformation:
+    if ispolar(sp)
+        Θ = x; r = y
+        x = r.*cos.(Θ); y = r.*sin.(Θ)
+    end

    # doesn't handle mismatched x/y - wrap data (pyplot behaviour):
    nx = length(x); ny = length(y)
@@ -254,28 +254,29 @@ For st in :shape:
 =#

    if st in (:shape,)
+        x, y = shape_data(series)
        nmax = 0
        for (i,rng) in enumerate(iter_segments(x, y))
            nmax = i
            if length(rng) > 1
                linewidth = series[:linewidth]
-                linecolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(cycle(series[:linecolor], i))
-                fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(cycle(series[:fillcolor], i))
+                linecolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(_cycle(series[:linecolor], i))
+                fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(_cycle(series[:fillcolor], i))
                line = InspectDR.line(
                    style=:solid, width=linewidth, color=linecolor
                )
                apline = InspectDR.PolylineAnnotation(
                    x[rng], y[rng], line=line, fillcolor=fillcolor
                )
-                push!(plot.apline, apline)
+                InspectDR.add(plot, apline)
            end
        end

-        i = (nmax >= 2? div(nmax, 2): nmax) #Must pick one set of colors for legend
+        i = (nmax >= 2 ? div(nmax, 2) : nmax) #Must pick one set of colors for legend
        if i > 1 #Add dummy waveform for legend entry:
            linewidth = series[:linewidth]
-            linecolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(cycle(series[:linecolor], i))
-            fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(cycle(series[:fillcolor], i))
+            linecolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(_cycle(series[:linecolor], i))
+            fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(_cycle(series[:fillcolor], i))
            wfrm = InspectDR.add(plot, Float64[], Float64[], id=series[:label])
            wfrm.line = InspectDR.line(
                style=:none, width=linewidth, #linewidth affects glyph
@@ -285,11 +286,11 @@ For st in :shape:
                color = linecolor, fillcolor = fillcolor
            )
        end
-   elseif st in (:path, :scatter) #, :steppre, :steppost)
+   elseif st in (:path, :scatter, :straightline) #, :steppre, :steppost)
        #NOTE: In Plots.jl, :scatter plots have 0-linewidths (I think).
        linewidth = series[:linewidth]
        #More efficient & allows some support for markerstrokewidth:
-        _style = (0==linewidth? :none: series[:linestyle])
+        _style = (0==linewidth ? :none : series[:linestyle])
        wfrm = InspectDR.add(plot, x, y, id=series[:label])
        wfrm.line = InspectDR.line(
            style = _style,
@@ -328,56 +329,75 @@ end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 function _inspectdr_setupsubplot(sp::Subplot{InspectDRBackend})
-    const gridon = InspectDR.grid(vmajor=true, hmajor=true)
-    const gridoff = InspectDR.grid()
-    const plot = sp.o
+    plot = sp.o
+    strip = plot.strips[1] #Only 1 strip supported with Plots.jl

    xaxis = sp[:xaxis]; yaxis = sp[:yaxis]
-        xscale = _inspectdr_getscale(xaxis[:scale])
-        yscale = _inspectdr_getscale(yaxis[:scale])
-        plot.axes = InspectDR.AxesRect(xscale, yscale)
+    xgrid_show = xaxis[:grid]
+    ygrid_show = yaxis[:grid]
+
+    strip.grid = InspectDR.GridRect(
+    	vmajor=xgrid_show, # vminor=xgrid_show,
+    	hmajor=ygrid_show, # hminor=ygrid_show,
+    )
+
+        plot.xscale = _inspectdr_getscale(xaxis[:scale], false)
+        strip.yscale = _inspectdr_getscale(yaxis[:scale], true)
        xmin, xmax  = axis_limits(xaxis)
        ymin, ymax  = axis_limits(yaxis)
-        plot.ext = InspectDR.PExtents2D() #reset
-        plot.ext_full = InspectDR.PExtents2D(xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
+        if ispolar(sp)
+            #Plots.jl appears to give (xmin,xmax) ≜ (Θmin,Θmax) & (ymin,ymax) ≜ (rmin,rmax)
+            rmax = NaNMath.max(abs(ymin), abs(ymax))
+            xmin, xmax = -rmax, rmax
+            ymin, ymax = -rmax, rmax
+        end
+        plot.xext = InspectDR.PExtents1D() #reset
+        strip.yext = InspectDR.PExtents1D() #reset
+        plot.xext_full = InspectDR.PExtents1D(xmin, xmax)
+        strip.yext_full = InspectDR.PExtents1D(ymin, ymax)
    a = plot.annotation
        a.title = sp[:title]
-        a.xlabel = xaxis[:guide]; a.ylabel = yaxis[:guide]
+        a.xlabel = xaxis[:guide]; a.ylabels = [yaxis[:guide]]

    l = plot.layout
-        l.framedata.fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:background_color_inside])
-        l.framedata.line.color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:foreground_color_axis])
-        l.fnttitle = InspectDR.Font(sp[:titlefont].family,
-            _inspectdr_mapptsize(sp[:titlefont].pointsize),
-            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:foreground_color_title])
+        l[:frame_canvas].fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:background_color_subplot])
+        l[:frame_data].fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:background_color_inside])
+        l[:frame_data].line.color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:foreground_color_axis])
+        l[:font_title] = InspectDR.Font(sp[:titlefontfamily],
+            _inspectdr_mapptsize(sp[:titlefontsize]),
+            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:titlefontcolor])
        )
        #Cannot independently control fonts of axes with InspectDR:
-        l.fntaxlabel = InspectDR.Font(xaxis[:guidefont].family,
-            _inspectdr_mapptsize(xaxis[:guidefont].pointsize),
-            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:foreground_color_guide])
+        l[:font_axislabel] = InspectDR.Font(xaxis[:guidefontfamily],
+            _inspectdr_mapptsize(xaxis[:guidefontsize]),
+            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:guidefontcolor])
        )
-        l.fntticklabel = InspectDR.Font(xaxis[:tickfont].family,
-            _inspectdr_mapptsize(xaxis[:tickfont].pointsize),
-            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:foreground_color_text])
+        l[:font_ticklabel] = InspectDR.Font(xaxis[:tickfontfamily],
+            _inspectdr_mapptsize(xaxis[:tickfontsize]),
+            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(xaxis[:tickfontcolor])
        )
-        #No independent control of grid???
-        l.grid = sp[:grid]? gridon: gridoff
-    leg = l.legend
-        leg.enabled = (sp[:legend] != :none)
-        #leg.width = 150 #TODO: compute???
-        leg.font = InspectDR.Font(sp[:legendfont].family,
-            _inspectdr_mapptsize(sp[:legendfont].pointsize),
-            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:foreground_color_legend])
+        l[:enable_legend] = (sp[:legend] != :none)
+        #l[:halloc_legend] = 150 #TODO: compute???
+        l[:font_legend] = InspectDR.Font(sp[:legendfontfamily],
+            _inspectdr_mapptsize(sp[:legendfontsize]),
+            color = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:legendfontcolor])
        )
-        leg.frame.fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:background_color_legend])
+        l[:frame_legend].fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(sp[:background_color_legend])
 end

 # called just before updating layout bounding boxes... in case you need to prep
 # for the calcs
 function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend})
-    const mplot = _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o)
+    mplot = _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o)
    if nothing == mplot; return; end

+    mplot.title = plt[:plot_title]
+    if "" == mplot.title
+        #Don't use window_title... probably not what you want.
+        #mplot.title = plt[:window_title]
+    end
+    mplot.layout[:frame].fillcolor = _inspectdr_mapcolor(plt[:background_color_outside])
+
    resize!(mplot.subplots, length(plt.subplots))
    nsubplots = length(plt.subplots)
    for (i, sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
@@ -385,30 +405,28 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend})
            mplot.subplots[i] = InspectDR.Plot2D()
        end
        sp.o = mplot.subplots[i]
+        plot = sp.o
        _initialize_subplot(plt, sp)
        _inspectdr_setupsubplot(sp)

-            sp.o.layout.frame.fillcolor =
-                _inspectdr_mapcolor(plt[:background_color_outside])
-
        # add the annotations
        for ann in sp[:annotations]
-            _inspectdr_add_annotations(mplot.subplots[i], ann...)
+            _inspectdr_add_annotations(plot, ann...)
        end
    end

    #Do not yet support absolute plot positionning.
    #Just try to make things look more-or less ok:
    if nsubplots <= 1
-        mplot.ncolumns = 1
+        mplot.layout[:ncolumns] = 1
    elseif nsubplots <= 4
-        mplot.ncolumns = 2
+        mplot.layout[:ncolumns] = 2
    elseif nsubplots <= 6
-        mplot.ncolumns = 3
+        mplot.layout[:ncolumns] = 3
    elseif nsubplots <= 12
-        mplot.ncolumns = 4
+        mplot.layout[:ncolumns] = 4
    else
-        mplot.ncolumns = 5
+        mplot.layout[:ncolumns] = 5
    end

    for series in plt.series_list
@@ -422,16 +440,34 @@ end
 # Set the (left, top, right, bottom) minimum padding around the plot area
 # to fit ticks, tick labels, guides, colorbars, etc.
 function _update_min_padding!(sp::Subplot{InspectDRBackend})
-    sp.minpad = (20mm, 5mm, 2mm, 10mm)
-    #TODO: Add support for padding.
+    plot = sp.o
+    if !isa(plot, InspectDR.Plot2D); return sp.minpad; end
+    #Computing plotbounds with 0-BoundingBox returns required padding:
+    bb = InspectDR.plotbounds(plot.layout.values, InspectDR.BoundingBox(0,0,0,0))
+    #NOTE: plotbounds always pads for titles, legends, etc. even if not in use.
+    #TODO: possibly zero-out items not in use??
+
+    # add in the user-specified margin to InspectDR padding:
+    leftpad   = abs(bb.xmin)*px + sp[:left_margin]
+    toppad    = abs(bb.ymin)*px + sp[:top_margin]
+    rightpad  = abs(bb.xmax)*px + sp[:right_margin]
+    bottompad = abs(bb.ymax)*px + sp[:bottom_margin]
+    sp.minpad = (leftpad, toppad, rightpad, bottompad)
 end

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

-# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (d[:annotations])
+# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (plotattributes[:annotations])
 function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend})
    mplot = _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o)
    if nothing == mplot; return; end
+
+    for (i, sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
+        graphbb = _inspectdr_to_pixels(plotarea(sp))
+        plot = mplot.subplots[i]
+        plot.plotbb = InspectDR.plotbounds(plot.layout.values, graphbb)
+    end
+
    gplot = _inspectdr_getgui(plt.o)
    if nothing == gplot; return; end

@@ -452,22 +488,23 @@ const _inspectdr_mimeformats_nodpi = Dict(
 #    "application/postscript"  => "ps", #TODO: support once Cairo supports PSSurface
    "application/pdf"         => "pdf"
 )
-_inspectdr_show(io::IO, mime::MIME, ::Void) =
+_inspectdr_show(io::IO, mime::MIME, ::Nothing, w, h) =
    throw(ErrorException("Cannot show(::IO, ...) plot - not yet generated"))
-_inspectdr_show(io::IO, mime::MIME, mplot) = show(io, mime, mplot)
+function _inspectdr_show(io::IO, mime::MIME, mplot, w, h)
+    InspectDR._show(io, mime, mplot, Float64(w), Float64(h))
+end

 for (mime, fmt) in _inspectdr_mimeformats_dpi
    @eval function _show(io::IO, mime::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend})
        dpi = plt[:dpi]#TODO: support
-        _inspectdr_show(io, mime, _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o))
+        _inspectdr_show(io, mime, _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o), plt[:size]...)
    end
 end
 for (mime, fmt) in _inspectdr_mimeformats_nodpi
    @eval function _show(io::IO, mime::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend})
-        _inspectdr_show(io, mime, _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o))
+        _inspectdr_show(io, mime, _inspectdr_getmplot(plt.o), plt[:size]...)
    end
 end
-_show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", plt::Plot{InspectDRBackend}) = nothing #Don't show

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@
 # significant contributions by: @pkofod

 const _pgfplots_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
-    # :annotations,
-    # :background_color_legend,
+    :annotations,
+    :background_color_legend,
    :background_color_inside,
    # :background_color_outside,
-    # :foreground_color_legend, :foreground_color_grid, :foreground_color_axis,
-    #     :foreground_color_text, :foreground_color_border,
+    # :foreground_color_legend,
+    :foreground_color_grid, :foreground_color_axis,
+    :foreground_color_text, :foreground_color_border,
    :label,
    :seriescolor, :seriesalpha,
    :linecolor, :linestyle, :linewidth, :linealpha,
@@ -22,39 +23,26 @@ const _pgfplots_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
    :guide, :lims, :ticks, :scale, :flip, :rotation,
    :tickfont, :guidefont, :legendfont,
    :grid, :legend,
-    # :colorbar,
-    # :marker_z, :levels,
+    :colorbar, :colorbar_title,
+    :fill_z, :line_z, :marker_z, :levels,
    # :ribbon, :quiver, :arrow,
    # :orientation,
    # :overwrite_figure,
-    # :polar,
+    :polar,
    # :normalize, :weights, :contours,
    :aspect_ratio,
    # :match_dimensions,
+    :tick_direction,
+    :framestyle,
+    :camera,
+    :contour_labels,
  ])
-const _pgfplots_seriestype = [:path, :path3d, :scatter, :steppre, :stepmid, :steppost, :histogram2d, :ysticks, :xsticks, :contour]
+const _pgfplots_seriestype = [:path, :path3d, :scatter, :steppre, :stepmid, :steppost, :histogram2d, :ysticks, :xsticks, :contour, :shape, :straightline,]
 const _pgfplots_style = [:auto, :solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot]
-const _pgfplots_marker = [:none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :pentagon] #vcat(_allMarkers, Shape)
+const _pgfplots_marker = [:none, :auto, :circle, :rect, :diamond, :utriangle, :dtriangle, :cross, :xcross, :star5, :pentagon, :hline] #vcat(_allMarkers, Shape)
 const _pgfplots_scale = [:identity, :ln, :log2, :log10]


-# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-function add_backend_string(::PGFPlotsBackend)
-    """
-    Pkg.add("PGFPlots")
-    Pkg.build("PGFPlots")
-    """
-end
-
-function _initialize_backend(::PGFPlotsBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import PGFPlots
-        export PGFPlots
-    end
-end
-
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 const _pgfplots_linestyles = KW(
@@ -79,6 +67,7 @@ const _pgfplots_markers = KW(
    :star6 => "asterisk",
    :diamond => "diamond*",
    :pentagon => "pentagon*",
+    :hline => "-"
 )

 const _pgfplots_legend_pos = KW(
@@ -86,6 +75,7 @@ const _pgfplots_legend_pos = KW(
    :bottomright => "south east",
    :topright => "north east",
    :topleft => "north west",
+    :outertopright => "outer north east",
 )


@@ -98,73 +88,133 @@ const _pgf_series_extrastyle = KW(
    :xsticks => "xcomb",
 )

+# PGFPlots uses the anchors to define orientations for example to align left
+# one needs to use the right edge as anchor
+const _pgf_annotation_halign = KW(
+    :center => "",
+    :left => "right",
+    :right => "left"
+)
+
+const _pgf_framestyles = [:box, :axes, :origin, :zerolines, :grid, :none]
+const _pgf_framestyle_defaults = Dict(:semi => :box)
+function pgf_framestyle(style::Symbol)
+    if style in _pgf_framestyles
+        return style
+    else
+        default_style = get(_pgf_framestyle_defaults, style, :axes)
+        @warn("Framestyle :$style is not (yet) supported by the PGFPlots backend. :$default_style was cosen instead.")
+        default_style
+    end
+end
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 # takes in color,alpha, and returns color and alpha appropriate for pgf style
-function pgf_color(c)
+function pgf_color(c::Colorant)
    cstr = @sprintf("{rgb,1:red,%.8f;green,%.8f;blue,%.8f}", red(c), green(c), blue(c))
    cstr, alpha(c)
 end

-function pgf_fillstyle(d::KW)
-    cstr,a = pgf_color(d[:fillcolor])
+function pgf_color(grad::ColorGradient)
+    # Can't handle ColorGradient here, fallback to defaults.
+    cstr = @sprintf("{rgb,1:red,%.8f;green,%.8f;blue,%.8f}", 0.0, 0.60560316,0.97868012)
+    cstr, 1
+end
+
+# Generates a colormap for pgfplots based on a ColorGradient
+function pgf_colormap(grad::ColorGradient)
+    join(map(grad.colors) do c
+        @sprintf("rgb=(%.8f,%.8f,%.8f)", red(c), green(c),blue(c))
+    end,", ")
+end
+
+pgf_thickness_scaling(plt::Plot) = plt[:thickness_scaling]
+pgf_thickness_scaling(sp::Subplot) = pgf_thickness_scaling(sp.plt)
+pgf_thickness_scaling(series) = pgf_thickness_scaling(series[:subplot])
+
+function pgf_fillstyle(plotattributes, i = 1)
+    cstr,a = pgf_color(get_fillcolor(plotattributes, i))
+    fa = get_fillalpha(plotattributes, i)
+    if fa != nothing
+        a = fa
+    end
    "fill = $cstr, fill opacity=$a"
 end

-function pgf_linestyle(d::KW)
-    cstr,a = pgf_color(d[:linecolor])
+function pgf_linestyle(linewidth::Real, color, α = 1, linestyle = "solid")
+    cstr, a = pgf_color(plot_color(color, α))
    """
    color = $cstr,
-    draw opacity=$a,
-    line width=$(d[:linewidth]),
-    $(get(_pgfplots_linestyles, d[:linestyle], "solid"))"""
+    draw opacity = $a,
+    line width = $linewidth,
+    $(get(_pgfplots_linestyles, linestyle, "solid"))"""
 end

-function pgf_marker(d::KW)
-    shape = d[:markershape]
-    cstr, a = pgf_color(d[:markercolor])
-    cstr_stroke, a_stroke = pgf_color(d[:markerstrokecolor])
+function pgf_linestyle(plotattributes, i = 1)
+    lw = pgf_thickness_scaling(plotattributes) * get_linewidth(plotattributes, i)
+    lc = get_linecolor(plotattributes, i)
+    la = get_linealpha(plotattributes, i)
+    ls = get_linestyle(plotattributes, i)
+    return pgf_linestyle(lw, lc, la, ls)
+end
+
+function pgf_font(fontsize, thickness_scaling = 1, font = "\\selectfont")
+    fs = fontsize * thickness_scaling
+    return string("{\\fontsize{", fs, " pt}{", 1.3fs, " pt}", font, "}")
+end
+
+function pgf_marker(plotattributes, i = 1)
+    shape = _cycle(plotattributes[:markershape], i)
+    cstr, a = pgf_color(plot_color(get_markercolor(plotattributes, i), get_markeralpha(plotattributes, i)))
+    cstr_stroke, a_stroke = pgf_color(plot_color(get_markerstrokecolor(plotattributes, i), get_markerstrokealpha(plotattributes, i)))
    """
    mark = $(get(_pgfplots_markers, shape, "*")),
-    mark size = $(0.5 * d[:markersize]),
+    mark size = $(pgf_thickness_scaling(plotattributes) * 0.5 * _cycle(plotattributes[:markersize], i)),
    mark options = {
        color = $cstr_stroke, draw opacity = $a_stroke,
        fill = $cstr, fill opacity = $a,
-        line width = $(d[:markerstrokewidth]),
+        line width = $(pgf_thickness_scaling(plotattributes) * _cycle(plotattributes[:markerstrokewidth], i)),
        rotate = $(shape == :dtriangle ? 180 : 0),
-        $(get(_pgfplots_linestyles, d[:markerstrokestyle], "solid"))
+        $(get(_pgfplots_linestyles, _cycle(plotattributes[:markerstrokestyle], i), "solid"))
    }"""
 end

+function pgf_add_annotation!(o, x, y, val, thickness_scaling = 1)
+    # Construct the style string.
+    # Currently supports color and orientation
+    cstr,a = pgf_color(val.font.color)
+    push!(o, PGFPlots.Plots.Node(val.str, # Annotation Text
+        x, y,
+        style="""
+        $(get(_pgf_annotation_halign,val.font.halign,"")),
+        color=$cstr, draw opacity=$(convert(Float16,a)),
+        rotate=$(val.font.rotation),
+        font=$(pgf_font(val.font.pointsize, thickness_scaling))
+        """))
+end
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 function pgf_series(sp::Subplot, series::Series)
-    d = series.d
-    st = d[:seriestype]
-    style = []
-    kw = KW()
-
-    push!(style, pgf_linestyle(d))
-    push!(style, pgf_marker(d))
-
-    if d[:fillrange] != nothing
-        push!(style, pgf_fillstyle(d))
-    end
-
-    # add to legend?
-    if sp[:legend] != :none && should_add_to_legend(series)
-        kw[:legendentry] = d[:label]
-    else
-        push!(style, "forget plot")
-    end
+    plotattributes = series.plotattributes
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
+    series_collection = PGFPlots.Plot[]

    # function args
-    args = if st  == :contour
-        d[:z].surf, d[:x], d[:y]
+    args = if st == :contour
+        plotattributes[:z].surf, plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]
    elseif is3d(st)
-        d[:x], d[:y], d[:z]
+        plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:z]
+    elseif st == :straightline
+        straightline_data(series)
+    elseif st == :shape
+        shape_data(series)
+    elseif ispolar(sp)
+        theta, r = filter_radial_data(plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y], axis_limits(sp[:yaxis]))
+        rad2deg.(theta), r
    else
-        d[:x], d[:y]
+        plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]
    end

    # PGFPlots can't handle non-Vector?
@@ -173,34 +223,131 @@ function pgf_series(sp::Subplot, series::Series)
        else
            a
        end, args)
-    # for (i,a) in enumerate(args)
-    #     if typeof(a) <: AbstractVector && typeof(a) != Vector
-    #         args[i] = collect(a)
-    #     end
-    # end

-    # include additional style, then add to the kw
+    if st in (:contour, :histogram2d)
+        style = []
+        kw = KW()
+        push!(style, pgf_linestyle(plotattributes))
+        push!(style, pgf_marker(plotattributes))
+        push!(style, "forget plot")
+
+        kw[:style] = join(style, ',')
+        func = if st == :histogram2d
+            PGFPlots.Histogram2
+        else
+            kw[:labels] = series[:contour_labels]
+            kw[:levels] = series[:levels]
+            PGFPlots.Contour
+        end
+        push!(series_collection, func(args...; kw...))
+
+    else
+        # series segments
+        segments = iter_segments(series)
+        for (i, rng) in enumerate(segments)
+            style = []
+            kw = KW()
+            push!(style, pgf_linestyle(plotattributes, i))
+            push!(style, pgf_marker(plotattributes, i))
+
+            if st == :shape
+                push!(style, pgf_fillstyle(plotattributes, i))
+            end
+
+            # add to legend?
+            if i == 1 && sp[:legend] != :none && should_add_to_legend(series)
+                if plotattributes[:fillrange] != nothing
+                    push!(style, "forget plot")
+                    push!(series_collection, pgf_fill_legend_hack(plotattributes, args))
+                else
+                    kw[:legendentry] = plotattributes[:label]
+                    if st == :shape # || plotattributes[:fillrange] != nothing
+                        push!(style, "area legend")
+                    end
+                end
+            else
+                push!(style, "forget plot")
+            end
+
+            seg_args = (arg[rng] for arg in args)
+
+            # include additional style, then add to the kw
+            if haskey(_pgf_series_extrastyle, st)
+                push!(style, _pgf_series_extrastyle[st])
+            end
+            kw[:style] = join(style, ',')
+
+            # add fillrange
+            if series[:fillrange] != nothing && st != :shape
+                push!(series_collection, pgf_fillrange_series(series, i, _cycle(series[:fillrange], rng), seg_args...))
+            end
+
+            # build/return the series object
+            func = if st == :path3d
+                PGFPlots.Linear3
+            elseif st == :scatter
+                PGFPlots.Scatter
+            else
+                PGFPlots.Linear
+            end
+            push!(series_collection, func(seg_args...; kw...))
+        end
+    end
+    series_collection
+end
+
+function pgf_fillrange_series(series, i, fillrange, args...)
+    st = series[:seriestype]
+    style = []
+    kw = KW()
+    push!(style, "line width = 0")
+    push!(style, "draw opacity = 0")
+    push!(style, pgf_fillstyle(series, i))
+    push!(style, pgf_marker(series, i))
+    push!(style, "forget plot")
    if haskey(_pgf_series_extrastyle, st)
        push!(style, _pgf_series_extrastyle[st])
    end
    kw[:style] = join(style, ',')
+    func = is3d(series) ? PGFPlots.Linear3 : PGFPlots.Linear
+    return func(pgf_fillrange_args(fillrange, args...)...; kw...)
+end

-    # build/return the series object
+function pgf_fillrange_args(fillrange, x, y)
+    n = length(x)
+    x_fill = [x; x[n:-1:1]; x[1]]
+    y_fill = [y; _cycle(fillrange, n:-1:1); y[1]]
+    return x_fill, y_fill
+end
+
+function pgf_fillrange_args(fillrange, x, y, z)
+    n = length(x)
+    x_fill = [x; x[n:-1:1]; x[1]]
+    y_fill = [y; y[n:-1:1]; x[1]]
+    z_fill = [z; _cycle(fillrange, n:-1:1); z[1]]
+    return x_fill, y_fill, z_fill
+end
+
+function pgf_fill_legend_hack(plotattributes, args)
+    style = []
+    kw = KW()
+    push!(style, pgf_linestyle(plotattributes, 1))
+    push!(style, pgf_marker(plotattributes, 1))
+    push!(style, pgf_fillstyle(plotattributes, 1))
+    push!(style, "area legend")
+    kw[:legendentry] = plotattributes[:label]
+    kw[:style] = join(style, ',')
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
    func = if st == :path3d
        PGFPlots.Linear3
    elseif st == :scatter
        PGFPlots.Scatter
-    elseif st == :histogram2d
-        PGFPlots.Histogram2
-    elseif st == :contour
-        PGFPlots.Contour
    else
        PGFPlots.Linear
    end
-    func(args...; kw...)
+    return func(([arg[1]] for arg in args)...; kw...)
 end

-
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

 function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
@@ -208,9 +355,19 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
    style = []
    kw = KW()

+    # turn off scaled ticks
+    push!(style, "scaled $(letter) ticks = false")
+
+    # set to supported framestyle
+    framestyle = pgf_framestyle(sp[:framestyle])
+
    # axis guide
    kw[Symbol(letter,:label)] = axis[:guide]

+    # Add label font
+    cstr, α = pgf_color(plot_color(axis[:guidefontcolor]))
+    push!(style, string(letter, "label style = {font = ", pgf_font(axis[:guidefontsize], pgf_thickness_scaling(sp)), ", color = ", cstr, ", draw opacity = ", α, ", rotate = ", axis[:guidefontrotation], "}"))
+
    # flip/reverse?
    axis[:flip] && push!(style, "$letter dir=reverse")

@@ -222,22 +379,75 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
    end

    # ticks on or off
-    if axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false)
+    if axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false, :none) || framestyle == :none
        push!(style, "$(letter)majorticks=false")
    end

+    # grid on or off
+    if axis[:grid] && framestyle != :none
+        push!(style, "$(letter)majorgrids = true")
+    else
+        push!(style, "$(letter)majorgrids = false")
+    end
+
    # limits
    # TODO: support zlims
    if letter != :z
-        lims = axis_limits(axis)
+        lims = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? rad2deg.(axis_limits(axis)) : axis_limits(axis)
        kw[Symbol(letter,:min)] = lims[1]
        kw[Symbol(letter,:max)] = lims[2]
    end

-    if !(axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false, :none, :auto))
+    if !(axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false, :none, :native)) && framestyle != :none
        ticks = get_ticks(axis)
-        push!(style, string(letter, "tick = {", join(ticks[1],","), "}"))
-        push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {", join(ticks[2],","), "}"))
+        #pgf plot ignores ticks with angle below 90 when xmin = 90 so shift values
+        tick_values = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? [rad2deg.(ticks[1])[3:end]..., 360, 405] : ticks[1]
+        push!(style, string(letter, "tick = {", join(tick_values,","), "}"))
+        if axis[:showaxis] && axis[:scale] in (:ln, :log2, :log10) && axis[:ticks] == :auto
+            # wrap the power part of label with }
+            tick_labels = Vector{String}(length(ticks[2]))
+            for (i, label) in enumerate(ticks[2])
+                base, power = split(label, "^")
+                power = string("{", power, "}")
+                tick_labels[i] = string(base, "^", power)
+            end
+            push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {\$", join(tick_labels,"\$,\$"), "\$}"))
+        elseif axis[:showaxis]
+            tick_labels = ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? [ticks[2][3:end]..., "0", "45"] : ticks[2]
+            if axis[:formatter] in (:scientific, :auto)
+                tick_labels = string.("\$", convert_sci_unicode.(tick_labels), "\$")
+                tick_labels = replace.(tick_labels, "×", "\\times")
+            end
+            push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {", join(tick_labels,","), "}"))
+        else
+            push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabels = {}"))
+        end
+        push!(style, string(letter, "tick align = ", (axis[:tick_direction] == :out ? "outside" : "inside")))
+        cstr, α = pgf_color(plot_color(axis[:tickfontcolor]))
+        push!(style, string(letter, "ticklabel style = {font = ", pgf_font(axis[:tickfontsize], pgf_thickness_scaling(sp)), ", color = ", cstr, ", draw opacity = ", α, ", rotate = ", axis[:tickfontrotation], "}"))
+        push!(style, string(letter, " grid style = {", pgf_linestyle(pgf_thickness_scaling(sp) * axis[:gridlinewidth], axis[:foreground_color_grid], axis[:gridalpha], axis[:gridstyle]), "}"))
+    end
+
+    # framestyle
+    if framestyle in (:axes, :origin)
+        axispos = framestyle == :axes ? "left" : "middle"
+        # the * after lines disables the arrows at the axes
+        push!(style, string("axis lines* = ", axispos))
+    end
+
+    if framestyle == :zerolines
+        push!(style, string("extra ", letter, " ticks = 0"))
+        push!(style, string("extra ", letter, " tick labels = "))
+        push!(style, string("extra ", letter, " tick style = {grid = major, major grid style = {", pgf_linestyle(pgf_thickness_scaling(sp), axis[:foreground_color_axis], 1.0), "}}"))
+    end
+
+    if !axis[:showaxis]
+        push!(style, "separate axis lines")
+    end
+    if !axis[:showaxis] || framestyle in (:zerolines, :grid, :none)
+        push!(style, string(letter, " axis line style = {draw opacity = 0}"))
+    else
+        push!(style, string(letter, " axis line style = {", pgf_linestyle(pgf_thickness_scaling(sp), axis[:foreground_color_axis], 1.0), "}"))
    end

    # return the style list and KW args
@@ -249,8 +459,12 @@ end

 function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
    plt.o = PGFPlots.Axis[]
+    # Obtain the total height of the plot by extracting the maximal bottom
+    # coordinate from the bounding box.
+    total_height = bottom(bbox(plt.layout))
+
    for sp in plt.subplots
-        # first build the PGFPlots.Axis object
+       # first build the PGFPlots.Axis object
        style = ["unbounded coords=jump"]
        kw = KW()

@@ -265,10 +479,12 @@ function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})

        # bounding box values are in mm
        # note: bb origin is top-left, pgf is bottom-left
+        # A round on 2 decimal places should be enough precision for 300 dpi
+        # plots.
        bb = bbox(sp)
        push!(style, """
            xshift = $(left(bb).value)mm,
-            yshift = $((height(bb) - (bottom(bb))).value)mm,
+            yshift = $(round((total_height - (bottom(bb))).value, digits=2))mm,
            axis background/.style={fill=$(pgf_color(sp[:background_color_inside])[1])}
        """)
        kw[:width] = "$(width(bb).value)mm"
@@ -276,9 +492,10 @@ function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})

        if sp[:title] != ""
            kw[:title] = "$(sp[:title])"
+            cstr, α = pgf_color(plot_color(sp[:titlefontcolor]))
+            push!(style, string("title style = {font = ", pgf_font(sp[:titlefontsize], pgf_thickness_scaling(sp)), ", color = ", cstr, ", draw opacity = ", α, ", rotate = ", sp[:titlefontrotation], "}"))
        end

-        sp[:grid] && push!(style, "grid = major")
        if sp[:aspect_ratio] in (1, :equal)
            kw[:axisEqual] = "true"
        end
@@ -287,20 +504,77 @@ function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
        if haskey(_pgfplots_legend_pos, legpos)
            kw[:legendPos] = _pgfplots_legend_pos[legpos]
        end
+        cstr, a = pgf_color(plot_color(sp[:background_color_legend]))
+        push!(style, string("legend style = {", pgf_linestyle(pgf_thickness_scaling(sp), sp[:foreground_color_legend], 1.0, "solid"), ",", "fill = $cstr,", "font = ", pgf_font(sp[:legendfontsize], pgf_thickness_scaling(sp)), "}"))

-        o = PGFPlots.Axis(; style = style, kw...)
+        if any(s[:seriestype] == :contour for s in series_list(sp))
+            kw[:view] = "{0}{90}"
+            kw[:colorbar] = !(sp[:colorbar] in (:none, :off, :hide, false))
+        elseif is3d(sp)
+            azim, elev = sp[:camera]
+            kw[:view] = "{$(azim)}{$(elev)}"
+        end
+
+        axisf = PGFPlots.Axis
+        if sp[:projection] == :polar
+            axisf = PGFPlots.PolarAxis
+            #make radial axis vertical
+            kw[:xmin] = 90
+            kw[:xmax] = 450
+        end
+
+        # Search series for any gradient. In case one series uses a gradient set
+        # the colorbar and colomap.
+        # The reasoning behind doing this on the axis level is that pgfplots
+        # colorbar seems to only works on axis level and needs the proper colormap for
+        # correctly displaying it.
+        # It's also possible to assign the colormap to the series itself but
+        # then the colormap needs to be added twice, once for the axis and once for the
+        # series.
+        # As it is likely that all series within the same axis use the same
+        # colormap this should not cause any problem.
+        for series in series_list(sp)
+            for col in (:markercolor, :fillcolor, :linecolor)
+                if typeof(series.plotattributes[col]) == ColorGradient
+                    push!(style,"colormap={plots}{$(pgf_colormap(series.plotattributes[col]))}")
+
+                    if sp[:colorbar] == :none
+                        kw[:colorbar] = "false"
+                    else
+                        kw[:colorbar] = "true"
+                    end
+                    # goto is needed to break out of col and series for
+                    @goto colorbar_end
+                end
+            end
+        end
+        @label colorbar_end
+
+        push!(style, "colorbar style={title=$(sp[:colorbar_title])}")
+        o = axisf(; style = join(style, ","), kw...)

        # add the series object to the PGFPlots.Axis
        for series in series_list(sp)
-            push!(o, pgf_series(sp, series))
+            push!.(o, pgf_series(sp, series))
+
+            # add series annotations
+            anns = series[:series_annotations]
+            for (xi,yi,str,fnt) in EachAnn(anns, series[:x], series[:y])
+                pgf_add_annotation!(o, xi, yi, PlotText(str, fnt), pgf_thickness_scaling(series))
+            end
        end

+        # add the annotations
+        for ann in sp[:annotations]
+            pgf_add_annotation!(o, locate_annotation(sp, ann...)..., pgf_thickness_scaling(sp))
+        end
+
+
        # add the PGFPlots.Axis to the list
        push!(plt.o, o)
    end
 end

-
 function _show(io::IO, mime::MIME"image/svg+xml", plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
    show(io, mime, plt.o)
 end
@@ -314,7 +588,7 @@ function _show(io::IO, mime::MIME"application/pdf", plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
    PGFPlots.save(PGFPlots.PDF(fn), pgfplt)

    # read it into io
-    write(io, readstring(open(fn)))
+    write(io, read(open(fn), String))

    # cleanup
    PGFPlots.cleanup(plt.o)
@@ -323,7 +597,7 @@ end
 function _show(io::IO, mime::MIME"application/x-tex", plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
    fn = tempname()*".tex"
    PGFPlots.save(fn, backend_object(plt), include_preamble=false)
-    write(io, readstring(open(fn)))
+    write(io, read(open(fn), String))
 end

 function _display(plt::Plot{PGFPlotsBackend})
@@ -10,35 +10,6 @@ const _plotlyjs_scale       = _plotly_scale
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


-function add_backend_string(::PlotlyJSBackend)
-    """
-    if !Plots.is_installed("PlotlyJS")
-        Pkg.add("PlotlyJS")
-    end
-    if !Plots.is_installed("Rsvg")
-        Pkg.add("Rsvg")
-    end
-    import Blink
-    Blink.AtomShell.install()
-    """
-end
-
-
-function _initialize_backend(::PlotlyJSBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import PlotlyJS
-        export PlotlyJS
-    end
-
-    # # override IJulia inline display
-    # if isijulia()
-    #     IJulia.display_dict(plt::AbstractPlot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = IJulia.display_dict(plt.o)
-    # end
-end
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
    if !isplotnull() && plt[:overwrite_figure] && isa(current().o, PlotlyJS.SyncPlot)
        PlotlyJS.SyncPlot(PlotlyJS.Plot(), current().o.view)
@@ -60,14 +31,14 @@ end

 function _series_updated(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}, series::Series)
    xsym, ysym = (ispolar(series) ? (:t,:r) : (:x,:y))
-    kw = KW(xsym => (series.d[:x],), ysym => (series.d[:y],))
+    kw = KW(xsym => (series.plotattributes[:x],), ysym => (series.plotattributes[:y],))
    z = series[:z]
    if z != nothing
        kw[:z] = (isa(z,Surface) ? transpose_z(series, series[:z].surf, false) : z,)
    end
    PlotlyJS.restyle!(
        plt.o,
-        findfirst(plt.series_list, series),
+        findfirst(isequal(series), plt.series_list),
        kw
    )
 end
@@ -85,7 +56,7 @@ end

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

-function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/svg+xml", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
+function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
    if isijulia() && !_use_remote[]
        write(io, PlotlyJS.html_body(PlotlyJS.JupyterPlot(plt.o)))
    else
@@ -98,14 +69,31 @@ function plotlyjs_save_hack(io::IO, plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}, ext::String)
    PlotlyJS.savefig(plt.o, tmpfn)
    write(io, read(open(tmpfn)))
 end
+_show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/svg+xml", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = plotlyjs_save_hack(io, plt, "svg")
 _show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = plotlyjs_save_hack(io, plt, "png")
 _show(io::IO, ::MIME"application/pdf", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = plotlyjs_save_hack(io, plt, "pdf")
 _show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/eps", plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = plotlyjs_save_hack(io, plt, "eps")

-function _display(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
-    display(plt.o)
+function write_temp_html(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
+    filename = string(tempname(), ".html")
+    savefig(plt, filename)
+    filename
 end

+function _display(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
+    if get(ENV, "PLOTS_USE_ATOM_PLOTPANE", true) in (true, 1, "1", "true", "yes")
+        display(plt.o)
+    else
+        standalone_html_window(plt)
+    end
+end
+
+@require WebIO = "0f1e0344-ec1d-5b48-a673-e5cf874b6c29" begin
+    function WebIO.render(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
+        prepare_output(plt)
+        WebIO.render(plt.o)
+    end
+end

 function closeall(::PlotlyJSBackend)
    if !isplotnull() && isa(current().o, PlotlyJS.SyncPlot)
@@ -3,14 +3,9 @@

 # [ADD BACKEND WEBSITE]

-function _initialize_backend(::[PkgName]Backend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import [PkgName]
-        export [PkgName]
-        # todo: other initialization that needs to be eval-ed
-    end
-    # todo: other initialization
-end
+import [PkgName]
+export [PkgName]
+push!(_initialized_backends, [pgkname]::Symbol)

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -54,7 +49,7 @@ end

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

-# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (d[:annotations])
+# Override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc), and add annotations (plotattributes[:annotations])
 function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{[PkgName]Backend})
 end

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const _unicodeplots_attr = merge_with_base_supported([
    :guide, :lims,
  ])
 const _unicodeplots_seriestype = [
-    :path, :scatter,
+    :path, :scatter, :straightline,
    # :bar,
    :shape,
    :histogram2d,
@@ -25,26 +25,10 @@ const _unicodeplots_scale = [:identity]


 # don't warn on unsupported... there's just too many warnings!!
-warnOnUnsupported_args(::UnicodePlotsBackend, d::KW) = nothing
+warnOnUnsupported_args(::UnicodePlotsBackend, plotattributes::KW) = nothing

 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-function add_backend_string(::UnicodePlotsBackend)
-    """
-    Pkg.add("UnicodePlots")
-    Pkg.build("UnicodePlots")
-    """
-end
-
-function _initialize_backend(::UnicodePlotsBackend; kw...)
-    @eval begin
-        import UnicodePlots
-        export UnicodePlots
-    end
-end
-
-# -------------------------------
-
 const _canvas_type = Ref(:auto)

 function _canvas_map()
@@ -120,7 +104,7 @@ function rebuildUnicodePlot!(plt::Plot, width, height)

        # now use the ! functions to add to the plot
        for series in series_list(sp)
-            addUnicodeSeries!(o, series.d, sp[:legend] != :none, xlim, ylim)
+            addUnicodeSeries!(o, series.plotattributes, sp[:legend] != :none, xlim, ylim)
        end

        # save the object
@@ -130,17 +114,17 @@ end


 # add a single series
-function addUnicodeSeries!(o, d::KW, addlegend::Bool, xlim, ylim)
+function addUnicodeSeries!(o, plotattributes::KW, addlegend::Bool, xlim, ylim)
    # get the function, or special handling for step/bar/hist
-    st = d[:seriestype]
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
    if st == :histogram2d
-        UnicodePlots.densityplot!(o, d[:x], d[:y])
+        UnicodePlots.densityplot!(o, plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y])
        return
    end

-    if st == :path
+    if st in (:path, :straightline)
        func = UnicodePlots.lineplot!
-    elseif st == :scatter || d[:markershape] != :none
+    elseif st == :scatter || plotattributes[:markershape] != :none
        func = UnicodePlots.scatterplot!
    # elseif st == :bar
    #     func = UnicodePlots.barplot!
@@ -151,14 +135,20 @@ function addUnicodeSeries!(o, d::KW, addlegend::Bool, xlim, ylim)
    end

    # get the series data and label
-    x, y = [collect(float(d[s])) for s in (:x, :y)]
-    label = addlegend ? d[:label] : ""
+    x, y = if st == :straightline
+        straightline_data(plotattributes)
+    elseif st == :shape
+        shape_data(series)
+    else
+        [collect(float(plotattributes[s])) for s in (:x, :y)]
+    end
+    label = addlegend ? plotattributes[:label] : ""

    # if we happen to pass in allowed color symbols, great... otherwise let UnicodePlots decide
-    color = d[:linecolor] in UnicodePlots.color_cycle ? d[:linecolor] : :auto
+    color = plotattributes[:linecolor] in UnicodePlots.color_cycle ? plotattributes[:linecolor] : :auto

    # add the series
-    x, y = Plots.unzip(collect(filter(xy->isfinite(xy[1])&&isfinite(xy[2]), zip(x,y))))
+    x, y = Plots.unzip(collect(Base.Iterators.filter(xy->isfinite(xy[1])&&isfinite(xy[2]), zip(x,y))))
    func(o, x, y; color = color, name = label)
 end

@@ -173,7 +163,7 @@ function png(plt::AbstractPlot{UnicodePlotsBackend}, fn::AbstractString)
    gui(plt)

    # @osx_only begin
-    @static if is_apple()
+    @static if Sys.isapple()
        # BEGIN HACK

        # wait while the plot gets drawn
@@ -202,7 +192,7 @@ end

 function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", plt::Plot{UnicodePlotsBackend})
    unicodeplots_rebuild(plt)
-    map(show, plt.o)
+    foreach(x -> show(io, x), plt.o)
    nothing
 end

@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@

 # CREDIT: parts of this implementation were inspired by @joshday's PlotlyLocal.jl

-
 function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::AbstractString = get(plt.attr, :window_title, "Plots.jl"))
    """
    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
        <head>
            <title>$title</title>
+            <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
            $(html_head(plt))
        </head>
        <body>
@@ -20,16 +20,16 @@ function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::AbstractString = get(plt.attr
 end

 function open_browser_window(filename::AbstractString)
-    @static if is_apple()
+    @static if Sys.isapple()
        return run(`open $(filename)`)
    end
-    @static if is_linux()
+    @static if Sys.islinux() || Sys.isbsd()    # Sys.isbsd() addition is as yet untested, but based on suggestion in https://github.com/JuliaPlots/Plots.jl/issues/681
        return run(`xdg-open $(filename)`)
    end
-    @static if is_windows()
-        return run(`$(ENV["COMSPEC"]) /c start $(filename)`)
+    @static if Sys.iswindows()
+        return run(`$(ENV["COMSPEC"]) /c start "" "$(filename)"`)
    end
-    warn("Unknown OS... cannot open browser window.")
+    @warn("Unknown OS... cannot open browser window.")
 end

 function write_temp_html(plt::AbstractPlot)
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@


-typealias P2 FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,Float64}
-typealias P3 FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,Float64}
+const P2 = FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,Float64}
+const P3 = FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,Float64}

 nanpush!(a::AbstractVector{P2}, b) = (push!(a, P2(NaN,NaN)); push!(a, b))
 nanappend!(a::AbstractVector{P2}, b) = (push!(a, P2(NaN,NaN)); append!(a, b))
 nanpush!(a::AbstractVector{P3}, b) = (push!(a, P3(NaN,NaN,NaN)); push!(a, b))
 nanappend!(a::AbstractVector{P3}, b) = (push!(a, P3(NaN,NaN,NaN)); append!(a, b))
-compute_angle(v::P2) = (angle = atan2(v[2], v[1]); angle < 0 ? 2π - angle : angle)
+compute_angle(v::P2) = (angle = atan(v[2], v[1]); angle < 0 ? 2π - angle : angle)

 # -------------------------------------------------------------

-immutable Shape
+struct Shape
    x::Vector{Float64}
    y::Vector{Float64}
    # function Shape(x::AVec, y::AVec)
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ immutable Shape
    #     end
    # end
 end
+
+"""
+    Shape(x, y)
+    Shape(vertices)
+
+Construct a polygon to be plotted
+"""
 Shape(verts::AVec) = Shape(unzip(verts)...)
 Shape(s::Shape) = deepcopy(s)

@@ -32,6 +39,7 @@ vertices(shape::Shape) = collect(zip(shape.x, shape.y))
 #deprecated
@deprecate shape_coords coords

+"return the vertex points from a Shape or Segments object"
 function coords(shape::Shape)
    shape.x, shape.y
 end
@@ -50,7 +58,7 @@ end

 "get an array of tuples of points on a circle with radius `r`"
 function partialcircle(start_θ, end_θ, n = 20, r=1)
-    Tuple{Float64,Float64}[(r*cos(u),r*sin(u)) for u in linspace(start_θ, end_θ, n)]
+    Tuple{Float64,Float64}[(r*cos(u),r*sin(u)) for u in range(start_θ, stop=end_θ, length=n)]
 end

 "interleave 2 vectors into each other (like a zipper's teeth)"
@@ -60,7 +68,8 @@ function weave(x,y; ordering = Vector[x,y])
  while !done
    for o in ordering
      try
-          push!(ret, shift!(o))
+          push!(ret, popfirst!(o))
+      catch
      end
    end
    done = isempty(x) && isempty(y)
@@ -156,6 +165,7 @@ Shape(k::Symbol) = deepcopy(_shapes[k])


 # uses the centroid calculation from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centroid#Centroid_of_polygon
+"return the centroid of a Shape"
 function center(shape::Shape)
    x, y = coords(shape)
    n = length(x)
@@ -174,7 +184,7 @@ function center(shape::Shape)
    Cx / 6A, Cy / 6A
 end

-function Base.scale!(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x, c = center(shape))
+function scale!(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x, c = center(shape))
    sx, sy = coords(shape)
    cx, cy = c
    for i=1:length(sx)
@@ -184,11 +194,12 @@ function Base.scale!(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x, c = center(shape))
    shape
 end

-function Base.scale(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x, c = center(shape))
+function scale(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x, c = center(shape))
    shapecopy = deepcopy(shape)
    scale!(shapecopy, x, y, c)
 end

+"translate a Shape in space"
 function translate!(shape::Shape, x::Real, y::Real = x)
    sx, sy = coords(shape)
    for i=1:length(sx)
@@ -227,6 +238,7 @@ function rotate!(shape::Shape, Θ::Real, c = center(shape))
    shape
 end

+"rotate an object in space"
 function rotate(shape::Shape, Θ::Real, c = center(shape))
    shapecopy = deepcopy(shape)
    rotate!(shapecopy, Θ, c)
@@ -235,7 +247,7 @@ end
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------


-type Font
+mutable struct Font
  family::AbstractString
  pointsize::Int
  halign::Symbol
@@ -285,7 +297,7 @@ function font(args...)
    elseif typeof(arg) <: Real
      rotation = convert(Float64, arg)
    else
-      warn("Unused font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused font arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
    end
  end

@@ -294,23 +306,50 @@ end

 function scalefontsize(k::Symbol, factor::Number)
    f = default(k)
-    f.pointsize = round(Int, factor * f.pointsize)
+    f = round(Int, factor * f)
    default(k, f)
 end
+
+"""
+    scalefontsizes(factor::Number)
+
+Scales all **current** font sizes by `factor`. For example `scalefontsizes(1.1)` increases all current font sizes by 10%. To reset to initial sizes, use `scalefontsizes()`
+"""
 function scalefontsizes(factor::Number)
-    for k in (:titlefont, :guidefont, :tickfont, :legendfont)
+    for k in (:titlefontsize, :guidefontsize, :tickfontsize, :legendfontsize)
        scalefontsize(k, factor)
    end
 end

+"""
+    scalefontsizes()
+
+Resets font sizes to initial default values.
+"""
+function scalefontsizes()
+  for k in (:titlefontsize, :guidefontsize, :tickfontsize, :legendfontsize)
+      f = default(k)
+      if k in keys(_initial_fontsizes)
+        factor = f / _initial_fontsizes[k]
+        scalefontsize(k, 1.0/factor)
+      end
+  end
+end
+
 "Wrap a string with font info"
-immutable PlotText
+struct PlotText
  str::AbstractString
  font::Font
 end
 PlotText(str) = PlotText(string(str), font())

+"""
+    text(string, args...)
+
+Create a PlotText object wrapping a string with font info, for plot annotations
+"""
 text(t::PlotText) = t
+text(t::PlotText, font::Font) = PlotText(t.str, font)
 text(str::AbstractString, f::Font) = PlotText(str, f)
 function text(str, args...)
  PlotText(string(str), font(args...))
@@ -322,13 +361,18 @@ Base.length(t::PlotText) = length(t.str)

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

-immutable Stroke
+struct Stroke
  width
  color
  alpha
  style
 end

+"""
+    stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
+
+Define the properties of the stroke used in plotting lines
+"""
 function stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
  width = 1
  color = :black
@@ -345,13 +389,14 @@ function stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
    elseif T <: Symbol || T <: AbstractString
      try
        color = parse(Colorant, string(arg))
+      catch
      end
    elseif allAlphas(arg)
      alpha = arg
    elseif allReals(arg)
      width = arg
    else
-      warn("Unused stroke arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused stroke arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
    end
  end

@@ -359,7 +404,7 @@ function stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
 end


-immutable Brush
+struct Brush
  size  # fillrange, markersize, or any other sizey attribute
  color
  alpha
@@ -377,13 +422,14 @@ function brush(args...; alpha = nothing)
    elseif T <: Symbol || T <: AbstractString
      try
        color = parse(Colorant, string(arg))
+      catch
      end
    elseif allAlphas(arg)
      alpha = arg
    elseif allReals(arg)
      size = arg
    else
-      warn("Unused brush arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+      @warn("Unused brush arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
    end
  end

@@ -392,19 +438,19 @@ end

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

-type SeriesAnnotations
+mutable struct SeriesAnnotations
    strs::AbstractVector  # the labels/names
    font::Font
-    baseshape::Nullable
+    baseshape::Union{Shape, AbstractVector{Shape}, Nothing}
    scalefactor::Tuple
 end
 function series_annotations(strs::AbstractVector, args...)
    fnt = font()
-    shp = Nullable{Any}()
+    shp = nothing
    scalefactor = (1,1)
    for arg in args
        if isa(arg, Shape) || (isa(arg, AbstractVector) && eltype(arg) == Shape)
-            shp = Nullable(arg)
+            shp = arg
        elseif isa(arg, Font)
            fnt = arg
        elseif isa(arg, Symbol) && haskey(_shapes, arg)
@@ -414,7 +460,7 @@ function series_annotations(strs::AbstractVector, args...)
        elseif is_2tuple(arg)
            scalefactor = arg
        else
-            warn("Unused SeriesAnnotations arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
+            @warn("Unused SeriesAnnotations arg: $arg ($(typeof(arg)))")
        end
    end
    # if scalefactor != 1
@@ -425,7 +471,7 @@ function series_annotations(strs::AbstractVector, args...)
    SeriesAnnotations(strs, fnt, shp, scalefactor)
 end
 series_annotations(anns::SeriesAnnotations) = anns
-series_annotations(::Void) = nothing
+series_annotations(::Nothing) = nothing

 function series_annotations_shapes!(series::Series, scaletype::Symbol = :pixels)
    anns = series[:series_annotations]
@@ -440,13 +486,14 @@ function series_annotations_shapes!(series::Series, scaletype::Symbol = :pixels)
    # end

    # @show msw msh
-    if anns != nothing && !isnull(anns.baseshape)
+    if anns != nothing && anns.baseshape != nothing
        # we use baseshape to overwrite the markershape attribute
        # with a list of custom shapes for each
        msw,msh = anns.scalefactor
        msize = Float64[]
-        shapes = Shape[begin
-            str = cycle(anns.strs,i)
+        shapes = Vector{Shape}(length(anns.strs))
+        for i in eachindex(anns.strs)
+            str = _cycle(anns.strs,i)

            # get the width and height of the string (in mm)
            sw, sh = text_size(str, anns.font.pointsize)
@@ -462,55 +509,106 @@ function series_annotations_shapes!(series::Series, scaletype::Symbol = :pixels)
            # and then re-scale a copy of baseshape to match the w/h ratio
            maxscale = max(xscale, yscale)
            push!(msize, maxscale)
-            baseshape = cycle(get(anns.baseshape),i)
-            shape = scale(baseshape, msw*xscale/maxscale, msh*yscale/maxscale, (0,0))
-        end for i=1:length(anns.strs)]
+            baseshape = _cycle(get(anns.baseshape),i)
+            shapes[i] = scale(baseshape, msw*xscale/maxscale, msh*yscale/maxscale, (0,0))
+        end
        series[:markershape] = shapes
        series[:markersize] = msize
    end
    return
 end

-type EachAnn
+mutable struct EachAnn
    anns
    x
    y
 end
-Base.start(ea::EachAnn) = 1
-Base.done(ea::EachAnn, i) = ea.anns == nothing || isempty(ea.anns.strs) || i > length(ea.y)
-function Base.next(ea::EachAnn, i)
-    tmp = cycle(ea.anns.strs,i)
+
+function Base.iterate(ea::EachAnn, i = 1)
+    if ea.anns == nothing || isempty(ea.anns.strs) || i > length(ea.y)
+        return nothing
+    end
+
+    tmp = _cycle(ea.anns.strs,i)
    str,fnt = if isa(tmp, PlotText)
        tmp.str, tmp.font
    else
        tmp, ea.anns.font
    end
-    ((cycle(ea.x,i), cycle(ea.y,i), str, fnt), i+1)
+    ((_cycle(ea.x,i), _cycle(ea.y,i), str, fnt), i+1)
 end

-annotations(::Void) = []
+annotations(::Nothing) = []
 annotations(anns::AVec) = anns
 annotations(anns) = Any[anns]
 annotations(sa::SeriesAnnotations) = sa

+# Expand arrays of coordinates, positions and labels into induvidual annotations
+# and make sure labels are of type PlotText
+function process_annotation(sp::Subplot, xs, ys, labs, font = font())
+    anns = []
+    labs = makevec(labs)
+    for i in 1:max(length(xs), length(ys), length(labs))
+        x, y, lab = _cycle(xs, i), _cycle(ys, i), _cycle(labs, i)
+        if lab == :auto
+            alphabet = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
+            push!(anns, (x, y, text(string("(", alphabet[sp[:subplot_index]], ")"), font)))
+        else
+            push!(anns, (x, y, isa(lab, PlotText) ? lab : text(lab, font)))
+        end
+    end
+    anns
+end
+function process_annotation(sp::Subplot, positions::Union{AVec{Symbol},Symbol}, labs, font = font())
+    anns = []
+    positions, labs = makevec(positions), makevec(labs)
+    for i in 1:max(length(positions), length(labs))
+        pos, lab = _cycle(positions, i), _cycle(labs, i)
+        pos = get(_positionAliases, pos, pos)
+        if lab == :auto
+            alphabet = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
+            push!(anns, (pos, text(string("(", alphabet[sp[:subplot_index]], ")"), font)))
+        else
+            push!(anns, (pos, isa(lab, PlotText) ? lab : text(lab, font)))
+        end
+    end
+    anns
+end
+
+# Give each annotation coordinates based on specified position
+function locate_annotation(sp::Subplot, pos::Symbol, lab::PlotText)
+    position_multiplier = Dict{Symbol, Tuple{Float64,Float64}}(
+        :topleft       => (0.1, 0.9),
+        :topcenter     => (0.5, 0.9),
+        :topright      => (0.9, 0.9),
+        :bottomleft    => (0.1, 0.1),
+        :bottomcenter  => (0.5, 0.1),
+        :bottomright   => (0.9, 0.1),
+    )
+    xmin, xmax = ignorenan_extrema(sp[:xaxis])
+    ymin, ymax = ignorenan_extrema(sp[:yaxis])
+    x, y = (xmin, ymin).+ position_multiplier[pos].* (xmax - xmin, ymax - ymin)
+    (x, y, lab)
+end
+locate_annotation(sp::Subplot, x, y, label::PlotText) = (x, y, label)
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 "type which represents z-values for colors and sizes (and anything else that might come up)"
-immutable ZValues
+struct ZValues
  values::Vector{Float64}
  zrange::Tuple{Float64,Float64}
 end

-function zvalues{T<:Real}(values::AVec{T}, zrange::Tuple{T,T} = (minimum(values), maximum(values)))
+function zvalues(values::AVec{T}, zrange::Tuple{T,T} = (ignorenan_minimum(values), ignorenan_maximum(values))) where T<:Real
  ZValues(collect(float(values)), map(Float64, zrange))
 end

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

-abstract AbstractSurface
+abstract type AbstractSurface end

 "represents a contour or surface mesh"
-immutable Surface{M<:AMat} <: AbstractSurface
+struct Surface{M<:AMat} <: AbstractSurface
  surf::M
 end

@@ -521,8 +619,8 @@ Base.Array(surf::Surface) = surf.surf
 for f in (:length, :size)
  @eval Base.$f(surf::Surface, args...) = $f(surf.surf, args...)
 end
-Base.copy(surf::Surface) = Surface{typeof(surf.surf)}(copy(surf.surf))
-Base.eltype{T}(surf::Surface{T}) = eltype(T)
+Base.copy(surf::Surface) = Surface(copy(surf.surf))
+Base.eltype(surf::Surface{T}) where {T} = eltype(T)

 function expand_extrema!(a::Axis, surf::Surface)
    ex = a[:extrema]
@@ -533,7 +631,7 @@ function expand_extrema!(a::Axis, surf::Surface)
 end

 "For the case of representing a surface as a function of x/y... can possibly avoid allocations."
-immutable SurfaceFunction <: AbstractSurface
+struct SurfaceFunction <: AbstractSurface
    f::Function
 end

@@ -543,19 +641,19 @@ end
 # # I don't want to clash with ValidatedNumerics, but this would be nice:
 # ..(a::T, b::T) = (a,b)

-immutable Volume{T}
+struct Volume{T}
    v::Array{T,3}
    x_extents::Tuple{T,T}
    y_extents::Tuple{T,T}
    z_extents::Tuple{T,T}
 end

-default_extents{T}(::Type{T}) = (zero(T), one(T))
+default_extents(::Type{T}) where {T} = (zero(T), one(T))

-function Volume{T}(v::Array{T,3},
-                   x_extents = default_extents(T),
-                   y_extents = default_extents(T),
-                   z_extents = default_extents(T))
+function Volume(v::Array{T,3},
+                x_extents = default_extents(T),
+                y_extents = default_extents(T),
+                z_extents = default_extents(T)) where T
    Volume(v, x_extents, y_extents, z_extents)
 end

@@ -563,19 +661,25 @@ Base.Array(vol::Volume) = vol.v
 for f in (:length, :size)
  @eval Base.$f(vol::Volume, args...) = $f(vol.v, args...)
 end
-Base.copy{T}(vol::Volume{T}) = Volume{T}(copy(vol.v), vol.x_extents, vol.y_extents, vol.z_extents)
-Base.eltype{T}(vol::Volume{T}) = T
+Base.copy(vol::Volume{T}) where {T} = Volume{T}(copy(vol.v), vol.x_extents, vol.y_extents, vol.z_extents)
+Base.eltype(vol::Volume{T}) where {T} = T

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 # style is :open or :closed (for now)
-immutable Arrow
+struct Arrow
    style::Symbol
    side::Symbol  # :head (default), :tail, or :both
    headlength::Float64
    headwidth::Float64
 end

+"""
+    arrow(args...)
+
+Define arrowheads to apply to lines - args are `style` (`:open` or `:closed`),
+`side` (`:head`, `:tail` or `:both`), `headlength` and `headwidth`
+"""
 function arrow(args...)
    style = :simple
    side = :head
@@ -600,7 +704,7 @@ function arrow(args...)
        elseif T <: Tuple && length(arg) == 2
            headlength, headwidth = Float64(arg[1]), Float64(arg[2])
        else
-            warn("Skipped arrow arg $arg")
+            @warn("Skipped arrow arg $arg")
        end
    end
    Arrow(style, side, headlength, headwidth)
@@ -625,14 +729,14 @@ end
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 "Represents data values with formatting that should apply to the tick labels."
-immutable Formatted{T}
+struct Formatted{T}
    data::T
    formatter::Function
 end

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-type BezierCurve{T <: FixedSizeArrays.Vec}
+"create a BezierCurve for plotting"
+mutable struct BezierCurve{T <: FixedSizeArrays.Vec}
    control_points::Vector{T}
 end

@@ -645,12 +749,12 @@ function (bc::BezierCurve)(t::Real)
    p
 end

-Base.mean(x::Real, y::Real) = 0.5*(x+y)
-Base.mean{N,T<:Real}(ps::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{N,T}...) = sum(ps) / length(ps)
+# mean(x::Real, y::Real) = 0.5*(x+y) #commented out as I cannot see this used anywhere and it overwrites a Base method with different functionality
+# mean{N,T<:Real}(ps::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{N,T}...) = sum(ps) / length(ps) # I also could not see this used anywhere, and it's type piracy - implementing a NaNMath version for this would just involve converting to a standard array

@deprecate curve_points coords

-coords(curve::BezierCurve, n::Integer = 30; range = [0,1]) = map(curve, linspace(range..., n))
+coords(curve::BezierCurve, n::Integer = 30; range = [0,1]) = map(curve, range(range..., stop=n, length=50))

 # build a BezierCurve which leaves point p vertically upwards and arrives point q vertically upwards.
 # may create a loop if necessary.  Assumes the view is [0,1]
@@ -659,7 +763,7 @@ function directed_curve(args...; kw...)
 end

 function extrema_plus_buffer(v, buffmult = 0.2)
-    vmin,vmax = extrema(v)
+    vmin,vmax = ignorenan_extrema(v)
    vdiff = vmax-vmin
    buffer = vdiff * buffmult
    vmin - buffer, vmax + buffer
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ is_subplot_supported(::BokehBackend) = false

 function _initialize_backend(::BokehBackend; kw...)
  @eval begin
-    warn("Bokeh is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
+    @warn("Bokeh is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
    import Bokeh
    export Bokeh
  end
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ const _glyphtypes = KW(
  )


-function bokeh_glyph_type(d::KW)
-  st = d[:seriestype]
-  mt = d[:markershape]
+function bokeh_glyph_type(plotattributes::KW)
+  st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
+  mt = plotattributes[:markershape]
  if st == :scatter && mt == :none
    mt = :circle
  end
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-# function _create_plot(pkg::BokehBackend, d::KW)
+# function _create_plot(pkg::BokehBackend, plotattributes::KW)
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{BokehBackend})
  # TODO: create the window/canvas/context that is the plot within the backend (call it `o`)
  # TODO: initialize the plot... title, xlabel, bgcolor, etc
@@ -142,34 +142,34 @@ function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{BokehBackend})
  extra_args = KW()  # TODO: we'll put extra settings (xlim, etc) here
  Bokeh.Plot(datacolumns, tools, filename, title, w, h, xaxis_type, yaxis_type, legend) #, extra_args)

-  # Plot(bplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+  # Plot(bplt, pkg, 0, plotattributes, KW[])
 end


-# function _series_added(::BokehBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
+# function _series_added(::BokehBackend, plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
 function _series_added(plt::Plot{BokehBackend}, series::Series)
-  bdata = Dict{Symbol, Vector}(:x => collect(series.d[:x]), :y => collect(series.d[:y]))
+  bdata = Dict{Symbol, Vector}(:x => collect(series.plotattributes[:x]), :y => collect(series.plotattributes[:y]))

  glyph = Bokeh.Bokehjs.Glyph(
-      glyphtype = bokeh_glyph_type(d),
-      linecolor = webcolor(d[:linecolor]),  # shape's stroke or line color
-      linewidth = d[:linewidth],          # shape's stroke width or line width
-      fillcolor = webcolor(d[:markercolor]),
-      size      = ceil(Int, d[:markersize] * 2.5),  # magic number 2.5 to keep in same scale as other backends
-      dash      = get_stroke_vector(d[:linestyle])
+      glyphtype = bokeh_glyph_type(plotattributes),
+      linecolor = webcolor(plotattributes[:linecolor]),  # shape's stroke or line color
+      linewidth = plotattributes[:linewidth],          # shape's stroke width or line width
+      fillcolor = webcolor(plotattributes[:markercolor]),
+      size      = ceil(Int, plotattributes[:markersize] * 2.5),  # magic number 2.5 to keep in same scale as other backends
+      dash      = get_stroke_vector(plotattributes[:linestyle])
    )

  legend = nothing  # TODO
  push!(plt.o.datacolumns, Bokeh.BokehDataSet(bdata, glyph, legend))

-  # push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
+  # push!(plt.seriesargs, plotattributes)
  # plt
 end

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

 # TODO: override this to update plot items (title, xlabel, etc) after creation
-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{BokehBackend}, d::KW)
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{BokehBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
 end

 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ end

 function Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::AbstractPlot{BokehBackend})
  # TODO: write a png to io
-  warn("mime png not implemented")
+  @warn("mime png not implemented")
 end

 function Base.display(::PlotsDisplay, plt::Plot{BokehBackend})
@@ -51,32 +51,32 @@ end
 # Base.size(v::MissingVec) = (1,)
 # Base.getindex(v::MissingVec, i::Integer) = 0.0

-function createGadflyPlotObject(d::KW)
+function createGadflyPlotObject(plotattributes::KW)
    gplt = Gadfly.Plot()
    gplt.mapping = Dict()
    gplt.data_source = Gadfly.DataFrames.DataFrame()
    # gplt.layers = gplt.layers[1:0]
    gplt.layers = [Gadfly.layer(Gadfly.Geom.point(tag=:remove), x=zeros(1), y=zeros(1));] # x=MissingVec(), y=MissingVec());]
-    gplt.guides = Gadfly.GuideElement[Gadfly.Guide.xlabel(d[:xguide]),
-                                   Gadfly.Guide.ylabel(d[:yguide]),
-                                   Gadfly.Guide.title(d[:title])]
+    gplt.guides = Gadfly.GuideElement[Gadfly.Guide.xlabel(plotattributes[:xguide]),
+                                   Gadfly.Guide.ylabel(plotattributes[:yguide]),
+                                   Gadfly.Guide.title(plotattributes[:title])]
    gplt
 end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


-function getLineGeom(d::KW)
-    st = d[:seriestype]
-    xbins, ybins = maketuple(d[:bins])
+function getLineGeom(plotattributes::KW)
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
+    xbins, ybins = maketuple(plotattributes[:bins])
    if st == :hexb
        Gadfly.Geom.hexbin(xbincount = xbins, ybincount = ybins)
    elseif st == :histogram2d
        Gadfly.Geom.histogram2d(xbincount = xbins, ybincount = ybins)
    elseif st == :histogram
        Gadfly.Geom.histogram(bincount = xbins,
-                              orientation = isvertical(d) ? :vertical : :horizontal,
-                              position = d[:bar_position] == :stack ? :stack : :dodge)
+                              orientation = isvertical(plotattributes) ? :vertical : :horizontal,
+                              position = plotattributes[:bar_position] == :stack ? :stack : :dodge)
    elseif st == :path
        Gadfly.Geom.path
    elseif st in (:bar, :sticks)
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ function getLineGeom(d::KW)
    elseif st == :vline
        Gadfly.Geom.vline
    elseif st == :contour
-        Gadfly.Geom.contour(levels = d[:levels])
+        Gadfly.Geom.contour(levels = plotattributes[:levels])
    # elseif st == :shape
    #     Gadfly.Geom.polygon(fill = true, preserve_order = true)
    else
@@ -98,11 +98,11 @@ function getLineGeom(d::KW)
    end
 end

-function get_extra_theme_args(d::KW, k::Symbol)
+function get_extra_theme_args(plotattributes::KW, k::Symbol)
    # gracefully handles old Gadfly versions
    extra_theme_args = KW()
    try
-        extra_theme_args[:line_style] = Gadfly.get_stroke_vector(d[k])
+        extra_theme_args[:line_style] = Gadfly.get_stroke_vector(plotattributes[k])
    catch err
        if string(err) == "UndefVarError(:get_stroke_vector)"
            Base.warn_once("Gadfly.get_stroke_vector failed... do you have an old version of Gadfly?")
@@ -113,53 +113,53 @@ function get_extra_theme_args(d::KW, k::Symbol)
    extra_theme_args
 end

-function getGadflyLineTheme(d::KW)
-    st = d[:seriestype]
-    lc = convertColor(getColor(d[:linecolor]), d[:linealpha])
-    fc = convertColor(getColor(d[:fillcolor]), d[:fillalpha])
+function getGadflyLineTheme(plotattributes::KW)
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
+    lc = convertColor(getColor(plotattributes[:linecolor]), plotattributes[:linealpha])
+    fc = convertColor(getColor(plotattributes[:fillcolor]), plotattributes[:fillalpha])

    Gadfly.Theme(;
        default_color = (st in (:histogram,:histogram2d,:hexbin,:bar,:sticks) ? fc : lc),
-        line_width = (st == :sticks ? 1 : d[:linewidth]) * Gadfly.px,
-        # line_style = Gadfly.get_stroke_vector(d[:linestyle]),
+        line_width = (st == :sticks ? 1 : plotattributes[:linewidth]) * Gadfly.px,
+        # line_style = Gadfly.get_stroke_vector(plotattributes[:linestyle]),
        lowlight_color = x->RGB(fc),  # fill/ribbon
        lowlight_opacity = alpha(fc), # fill/ribbon
        bar_highlight = RGB(lc),      # bars
-        get_extra_theme_args(d, :linestyle)...
+        get_extra_theme_args(plotattributes, :linestyle)...
    )
 end

 # add a line as a new layer
-function addGadflyLine!(plt::Plot, numlayers::Int, d::KW, geoms...)
+function addGadflyLine!(plt::Plot, numlayers::Int, plotattributes::KW, geoms...)
    gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)
-    gfargs = vcat(geoms..., getGadflyLineTheme(d))
+    gfargs = vcat(geoms..., getGadflyLineTheme(plotattributes))
    kwargs = KW()
-    st = d[:seriestype]
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]

    # add a fill?
-    if d[:fillrange] != nothing && st != :contour
-        fillmin, fillmax = map(makevec, maketuple(d[:fillrange]))
+    if plotattributes[:fillrange] != nothing && st != :contour
+        fillmin, fillmax = map(makevec, maketuple(plotattributes[:fillrange]))
        nmin, nmax = length(fillmin), length(fillmax)
-        kwargs[:ymin] = Float64[min(y, fillmin[mod1(i, nmin)], fillmax[mod1(i, nmax)]) for (i,y) in enumerate(d[:y])]
-        kwargs[:ymax] = Float64[max(y, fillmin[mod1(i, nmin)], fillmax[mod1(i, nmax)]) for (i,y) in enumerate(d[:y])]
+        kwargs[:ymin] = Float64[min(y, fillmin[mod1(i, nmin)], fillmax[mod1(i, nmax)]) for (i,y) in enumerate(plotattributes[:y])]
+        kwargs[:ymax] = Float64[max(y, fillmin[mod1(i, nmin)], fillmax[mod1(i, nmax)]) for (i,y) in enumerate(plotattributes[:y])]
        push!(gfargs, Gadfly.Geom.ribbon)
    end

    if st in (:hline, :vline)
-        kwargs[st == :hline ? :yintercept : :xintercept] = d[:y]
+        kwargs[st == :hline ? :yintercept : :xintercept] = plotattributes[:y]

    else
        if st == :sticks
-            w = 0.01 * mean(diff(d[:x]))
-            kwargs[:xmin] = d[:x] - w
-            kwargs[:xmax] = d[:x] + w
+            w = 0.01 * mean(diff(plotattributes[:x]))
+            kwargs[:xmin] = plotattributes[:x] - w
+            kwargs[:xmax] = plotattributes[:x] + w
        elseif st == :contour
-            kwargs[:z] = d[:z].surf
-            addGadflyContColorScale(plt, d[:linecolor])
+            kwargs[:z] = plotattributes[:z].surf
+            addGadflyContColorScale(plt, plotattributes[:linecolor])
        end

-        kwargs[:x] = d[st == :histogram ? :y : :x]
-        kwargs[:y] = d[:y]
+        kwargs[:x] = plotattributes[st == :histogram ? :y : :x]
+        kwargs[:y] = plotattributes[:y]

    end

@@ -180,24 +180,24 @@ getMarkerGeom(other) = gadflyshape(get_shape(other))
 # getMarkerGeom(shape::Shape) = gadflyshape(shape)
 # getMarkerGeom(shape::Symbol) = gadflyshape(_shapes[shape])
 # getMarkerGeom(shapes::AVec) = gadflyshape(map(gadflyshape, shapes)) # map(getMarkerGeom, shapes)
-function getMarkerGeom(d::KW)
-    if d[:seriestype] == :shape
+function getMarkerGeom(plotattributes::KW)
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :shape
        Gadfly.Geom.polygon(fill = true, preserve_order = true)
    else
-        getMarkerGeom(d[:markershape])
+        getMarkerGeom(plotattributes[:markershape])
    end
 end

-function getGadflyMarkerTheme(d::KW, attr::KW)
-    c = getColor(d[:markercolor])
-    α = d[:markeralpha]
+function getGadflyMarkerTheme(plotattributes::KW, attr::KW)
+    c = getColor(plotattributes[:markercolor])
+    α = plotattributes[:markeralpha]
    if α != nothing
        c = RGBA(RGB(c), α)
    end

-    ms = d[:markersize]
+    ms = plotattributes[:markersize]
    ms = if typeof(ms) <: AVec
-        warn("Gadfly doesn't support variable marker sizes... using the average: $(mean(ms))")
+        @warn("Gadfly doesn't support variable marker sizes... using the average: $(mean(ms))")
        mean(ms) * Gadfly.px
    else
        ms * Gadfly.px
@@ -206,10 +206,10 @@ function getGadflyMarkerTheme(d::KW, attr::KW)
    Gadfly.Theme(;
        default_color = c,
        default_point_size = ms,
-        discrete_highlight_color = c -> RGB(getColor(d[:markerstrokecolor])),
-        highlight_width = d[:markerstrokewidth] * Gadfly.px,
-        line_width = d[:markerstrokewidth] * Gadfly.px,
-        # get_extra_theme_args(d, :markerstrokestyle)...
+        discrete_highlight_color = c -> RGB(getColor(plotattributes[:markerstrokecolor])),
+        highlight_width = plotattributes[:markerstrokewidth] * Gadfly.px,
+        line_width = plotattributes[:markerstrokewidth] * Gadfly.px,
+        # get_extra_theme_args(plotattributes, :markerstrokestyle)...
    )
 end

@@ -221,30 +221,30 @@ function addGadflyContColorScale(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, c)
    push!(getGadflyContext(plt).scales, Gadfly.Scale.ContinuousColorScale(p -> RGB(getColorZ(c, p))))
 end

-function addGadflyMarker!(plt::Plot, numlayers::Int, d::KW, attr::KW, geoms...)
-    gfargs = vcat(geoms..., getGadflyMarkerTheme(d, attr), getMarkerGeom(d))
+function addGadflyMarker!(plt::Plot, numlayers::Int, plotattributes::KW, attr::KW, geoms...)
+    gfargs = vcat(geoms..., getGadflyMarkerTheme(plotattributes, attr), getMarkerGeom(plotattributes))
    kwargs = KW()

    # handle continuous color scales for the markers
-    zcolor = d[:marker_z]
+    zcolor = plotattributes[:marker_z]
    if zcolor != nothing && typeof(zcolor) <: AVec
        kwargs[:color] = zcolor
-        addGadflyContColorScale(plt, d[:markercolor])
+        addGadflyContColorScale(plt, plotattributes[:markercolor])
    end

-    Gadfly.layer(gfargs...; x = d[:x], y = d[:y], order=numlayers, kwargs...)
+    Gadfly.layer(gfargs...; x = plotattributes[:x], y = plotattributes[:y], order=numlayers, kwargs...)
 end


 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-function addToGadflyLegend(plt::Plot, d::KW)
-    if plt.attr[:legend] != :none && d[:label] != ""
+function addToGadflyLegend(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
+    if plt.attr[:legend] != :none && plotattributes[:label] != ""
        gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)

        # add the legend if needed
        if all(g -> !isa(g, Gadfly.Guide.ManualColorKey), gplt.guides)
-            unshift!(gplt.guides, Gadfly.Guide.manual_color_key("", AbstractString[], Color[]))
+            pushfirst!(gplt.guides, Gadfly.Guide.manual_color_key("", AbstractString[], Color[]))
        end

        # now add the series to the legend
@@ -254,20 +254,20 @@ function addToGadflyLegend(plt::Plot, d::KW)
                # since gadfly will call unique(colors), but doesn't also merge the rows that match
                # Should ensure from this side that colors which are the same are merged together

-                c = getColor(d[d[:markershape] == :none ? :linecolor : :markercolor])
+                c = getColor(plotattributes[plotattributes[:markershape] == :none ? :linecolor : :markercolor])
                foundit = false

                # extend the label if we found this color
                for i in 1:length(guide.colors)
                    if RGB(c) == guide.colors[i]
-                        guide.labels[i] *= ", " * d[:label]
+                        guide.labels[i] *= ", " * plotattributes[:label]
                        foundit = true
                    end
                end

                # didn't find the color, so add a new entry into the legend
                if !foundit
-                    push!(guide.labels, d[:label])
+                    push!(guide.labels, plotattributes[:label])
                    push!(guide.colors, c)
                end
            end
@@ -279,40 +279,40 @@ getGadflySmoothing(smooth::Bool) = smooth ? [Gadfly.Geom.smooth(method=:lm)] : A
 getGadflySmoothing(smooth::Real) = [Gadfly.Geom.smooth(method=:loess, smoothing=float(smooth))]


-function addGadflySeries!(plt::Plot, d::KW)
+function addGadflySeries!(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
    layers = Gadfly.Layer[]
    gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)

    # add a regression line?
    # TODO: make more flexible
-    smooth = getGadflySmoothing(d[:smooth])
+    smooth = getGadflySmoothing(plotattributes[:smooth])

    # lines
-    geom = getLineGeom(d)
+    geom = getLineGeom(plotattributes)
    if geom != nothing
-        prepend!(layers, addGadflyLine!(plt, length(gplt.layers), d, geom, smooth...))
+        prepend!(layers, addGadflyLine!(plt, length(gplt.layers), plotattributes, geom, smooth...))
        smooth = Any[] # don't add a regression for markers too
    end

    # special handling for ohlc and scatter
-    st = d[:seriestype]
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
    # if st == :ohlc
    #     error("Haven't re-implemented after refactoring")
-    if st in (:histogram2d, :hexbin) && (isa(d[:fillcolor], ColorGradient) || isa(d[:fillcolor], ColorFunction))
-        push!(gplt.scales, Gadfly.Scale.ContinuousColorScale(p -> RGB(getColorZ(d[:fillcolor], p))))
-    elseif st == :scatter && d[:markershape] == :none
-        d[:markershape] = :circle
+    if st in (:histogram2d, :hexbin) && (isa(plotattributes[:fillcolor], ColorGradient) || isa(plotattributes[:fillcolor], ColorFunction))
+        push!(gplt.scales, Gadfly.Scale.ContinuousColorScale(p -> RGB(getColorZ(plotattributes[:fillcolor], p))))
+    elseif st == :scatter && plotattributes[:markershape] == :none
+        plotattributes[:markershape] = :circle
    end

    # markers
-    if d[:markershape] != :none || st == :shape
-        prepend!(layers, addGadflyMarker!(plt, length(gplt.layers), d, plt.attr, smooth...))
+    if plotattributes[:markershape] != :none || st == :shape
+        prepend!(layers, addGadflyMarker!(plt, length(gplt.layers), plotattributes, plt.attr, smooth...))
    end

-    st in (:histogram2d, :hexbin, :contour) || addToGadflyLegend(plt, d)
+    st in (:histogram2d, :hexbin, :contour) || addToGadflyLegend(plt, plotattributes)

    # now save the layers that apply to this series
-    d[:gadflylayers] = layers
+    plotattributes[:gadflylayers] = layers
    prepend!(gplt.layers, layers)
 end

@@ -322,10 +322,10 @@ end
 # NOTE: I'm leaving this here and commented out just in case I want to implement again... it was hacky code to create multi-colored line segments

 #   # colorgroup
-#   z = d[:z]
+#   z = plotattributes[:z]

 #   # handle line segments of different colors
-#   cscheme = d[:linecolor]
+#   cscheme = plotattributes[:linecolor]
 #   if isa(cscheme, ColorVector)
 #     # create a color scale, and set the color group to the index of the color
 #     push!(gplt.scales, Gadfly.Scale.color_discrete_manual(cscheme.v...))
@@ -333,10 +333,10 @@ end
 #     # this is super weird, but... oh well... for some reason this creates n separate line segments...
 #     # create a list of vertices that go: [x1,x2,x2,x3,x3, ... ,xi,xi, ... xn,xn] (same for y)
 #     # then the vector passed to the "color" keyword should be a vector: [1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4, ..., i,i, ... , n,n]
-#     csindices = Int[mod1(i,length(cscheme.v)) for i in 1:length(d[:y])]
-#     cs = collect(repmat(csindices', 2, 1))[1:end-1]
-#     grp = collect(repmat((1:length(d[:y]))', 2, 1))[1:end-1]
-#     d[:x], d[:y] = map(createSegments, (d[:x], d[:y]))
+#     csindices = Int[mod1(i,length(cscheme.v)) for i in 1:length(plotattributes[:y])]
+#     cs = collect(repeat(csindices', 2, 1))[1:end-1]
+#     grp = collect(repeat((1:length(plotattributes[:y]))', 2, 1))[1:end-1]
+#     plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y] = map(createSegments, (plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]))
 #     colorgroup = [(:linecolor, cs), (:group, grp)]


@@ -388,11 +388,11 @@ continuousAndSameAxis(scale, isx::Bool) = isa(scale, Gadfly.Scale.ContinuousScal
 filterGadflyScale(gplt, isx::Bool) = filter!(scale -> !continuousAndSameAxis(scale, isx), gplt.scales)


-function getGadflyScaleFunction(d::KW, isx::Bool)
+function getGadflyScaleFunction(plotattributes::KW, isx::Bool)
    scalekey = isx ? :xscale : :yscale
-    hasScaleKey = haskey(d, scalekey)
+    hasScaleKey = haskey(plotattributes, scalekey)
    if hasScaleKey
-        scale = d[scalekey]
+        scale = plotattributes[scalekey]
        scale == :ln && return isx ? Gadfly.Scale.x_log : Gadfly.Scale.y_log, hasScaleKey, log
        scale == :log2 && return isx ? Gadfly.Scale.x_log2 : Gadfly.Scale.y_log2, hasScaleKey, log2
        scale == :log10 && return isx ? Gadfly.Scale.x_log10 : Gadfly.Scale.y_log10, hasScaleKey, log10
@@ -403,15 +403,15 @@ function getGadflyScaleFunction(d::KW, isx::Bool)
 end


-function addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, d::KW, isx::Bool)
-    gfunc, hasScaleKey, func = getGadflyScaleFunction(d, isx)
+function addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, plotattributes::KW, isx::Bool)
+    gfunc, hasScaleKey, func = getGadflyScaleFunction(plotattributes, isx)

    # do we want to add min/max limits for the axis?
    limsym = isx ? :xlims : :ylims
    limargs = Any[]

    # map :auto to nothing, otherwise add to limargs
-    lims = get(d, limsym, :auto)
+    lims = get(plotattributes, limsym, :auto)
    if lims == :auto
        lims = nothing
    else
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ function addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, d::KW, isx::Bool)
    lims, func
 end

-function updateGadflyAxisFlips(gplt, d::KW, xlims, ylims, xfunc, yfunc)
+function updateGadflyAxisFlips(gplt, plotattributes::KW, xlims, ylims, xfunc, yfunc)
    if isa(gplt.coord, Gadfly.Coord.Cartesian)
        gplt.coord = Gadfly.Coord.cartesian(
            gplt.coord.xvars,
@@ -441,16 +441,16 @@ function updateGadflyAxisFlips(gplt, d::KW, xlims, ylims, xfunc, yfunc)
            xmax = xlims == nothing ? gplt.coord.xmax : xfunc(maximum(xlims)),
            ymin = ylims == nothing ? gplt.coord.ymin : yfunc(minimum(ylims)),
            ymax = ylims == nothing ? gplt.coord.ymax : yfunc(maximum(ylims)),
-            xflip = get(d, :xflip, gplt.coord.xflip),
-            yflip = get(d, :yflip, gplt.coord.yflip),
+            xflip = get(plotattributes, :xflip, gplt.coord.xflip),
+            yflip = get(plotattributes, :yflip, gplt.coord.yflip),
            fixed = gplt.coord.fixed,
            aspect_ratio = gplt.coord.aspect_ratio,
            raster = gplt.coord.raster
        )
    else
        gplt.coord = Gadfly.Coord.Cartesian(
-            xflip = get(d, :xflip, false),
-            yflip = get(d, :yflip, false)
+            xflip = get(plotattributes, :xflip, false),
+            yflip = get(plotattributes, :yflip, false)
        )
    end
 end
@@ -464,37 +464,37 @@ function findGuideAndSet(gplt, t::DataType, args...; kw...)
    end
 end

-function updateGadflyGuides(plt::Plot, d::KW)
+function updateGadflyGuides(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
    gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)
-    haskey(d, :title) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.title, string(d[:title]))
-    haskey(d, :xguide) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.xlabel, string(d[:xguide]))
-    haskey(d, :yguide) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.ylabel, string(d[:yguide]))
+    haskey(plotattributes, :title) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.title, string(plotattributes[:title]))
+    haskey(plotattributes, :xguide) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.xlabel, string(plotattributes[:xguide]))
+    haskey(plotattributes, :yguide) && findGuideAndSet(gplt, Gadfly.Guide.ylabel, string(plotattributes[:yguide]))

-    xlims, xfunc = addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, d, true)
-    ylims, yfunc = addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, d, false)
+    xlims, xfunc = addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, plotattributes, true)
+    ylims, yfunc = addGadflyLimitsScale(gplt, plotattributes, false)

-    ticks = get(d, :xticks, :auto)
+    ticks = get(plotattributes, :xticks, :auto)
    if ticks == :none
        _remove_axis(plt, true)
    else
        addGadflyTicksGuide(gplt, ticks, true)
    end
-    ticks = get(d, :yticks, :auto)
+    ticks = get(plotattributes, :yticks, :auto)
    if ticks == :none
        _remove_axis(plt, false)
    else
        addGadflyTicksGuide(gplt, ticks, false)
    end

-    updateGadflyAxisFlips(gplt, d, xlims, ylims, xfunc, yfunc)
+    updateGadflyAxisFlips(gplt, plotattributes, xlims, ylims, xfunc, yfunc)
 end

-function updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt::Plot, d::KW)
+function updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
    kwargs = KW()

    # colors
    insidecolor, gridcolor, textcolor, guidecolor, legendcolor =
-        map(s -> getColor(d[s]), (
+        map(s -> getColor(plotattributes[s]), (
            :background_color_inside,
            :foreground_color_grid,
            :foreground_color_text,
@@ -503,17 +503,17 @@ function updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt::Plot, d::KW)
        ))

    # # hide the legend?
-    leg = d[d[:legend] == :none ? :colorbar : :legend]
+    leg = plotattributes[plotattributes[:legend] == :none ? :colorbar : :legend]
    if leg != :best
        kwargs[:key_position] = leg == :inside ? :right : leg
    end

-    if !get(d, :grid, true)
+    if !get(plotattributes, :grid, true)
        kwargs[:grid_color] = gridcolor
    end

    # fonts
-    tfont, gfont, lfont = d[:tickfont], d[:guidefont], d[:legendfont]
+    tfont, gfont, lfont = plotattributes[:tickfont], plotattributes[:guidefont], plotattributes[:legendfont]

    getGadflyContext(plt).theme = Gadfly.Theme(;
        background_color = insidecolor,
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ function createGadflyAnnotationObject(x, y, txt::PlotText)
                            ))
 end

-function _add_annotations{X,Y,V}(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}})
+function _add_annotations(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}}) where {X,Y,V}
    for ann in anns
        push!(plt.o.guides, createGadflyAnnotationObject(ann...))
    end
@@ -568,9 +568,9 @@ end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 # create a blank Gadfly.Plot object
-# function _create_plot(pkg::GadflyBackend, d::KW)
-#     gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
-#     Plot(gplt, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+# function _create_plot(pkg::GadflyBackend, plotattributes::KW)
+#     gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(plotattributes)
+#     Plot(gplt, pkg, 0, plotattributes, KW[])
 # end
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend})
    createGadflyPlotObject(plt.attr)
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ end


 # plot one data series
-# function _series_added(::GadflyBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
+# function _series_added(::GadflyBackend, plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
 function _series_added(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, series::Series)
    # first clear out the temporary layer
    gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)
@@ -586,16 +586,16 @@ function _series_added(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, series::Series)
        gplt.layers = gplt.layers[2:end]
    end

-    addGadflySeries!(plt, series.d)
-    # push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
+    addGadflySeries!(plt, series.plotattributes)
+    # push!(plt.seriesargs, plotattributes)
    # plt
 end



-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, d::KW)
-    updateGadflyGuides(plt, d)
-    updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt, d)
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
+    updateGadflyGuides(plt, plotattributes)
+    updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt, plotattributes)
 end


@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ function getxy(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, i::Integer)
    mapping[:x], mapping[:y]
 end

-function setxy!{X,Y}(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer)
+function setxy!(plt::Plot{GadflyBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y}
    for mapping in getGadflyMappings(plt, i)
        mapping[:x], mapping[:y] = xy
    end
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ setGadflyDisplaySize(plt::Plot) = setGadflyDisplaySize(plt.attr[:size]...)
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------


-function doshow{P<:Union{GadflyBackend,ImmerseBackend}}(io::IO, func, plt::AbstractPlot{P})
+function doshow(io::IO, func, plt::AbstractPlot{P}) where P<:Union{GadflyBackend,ImmerseBackend}
    gplt = getGadflyContext(plt)
    setGadflyDisplaySize(plt)
    Gadfly.draw(func(io, Compose.default_graphic_width, Compose.default_graphic_height), gplt)
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ getGadflyWriteFunc(::MIME"application/x-tex") = Gadfly.PGF
 getGadflyWriteFunc(m::MIME) = error("Unsupported in Gadfly/Immerse: ", m)

 for mime in (MIME"image/png", MIME"image/svg+xml", MIME"application/pdf", MIME"application/postscript", MIME"application/x-tex")
-    @eval function Base.show{P<:Union{GadflyBackend,ImmerseBackend}}(io::IO, ::$mime, plt::AbstractPlot{P})
+    @eval function Base.show(io::IO, ::$mime, plt::AbstractPlot{P}) where P<:Union{GadflyBackend,ImmerseBackend}
        func = getGadflyWriteFunc($mime())
        doshow(io, func, plt)
    end
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@

 # Geometry which displays arbitrary shapes at given (x, y) positions.
 # note: vertices is a list of shapes
-immutable ShapeGeometry <: Gadfly.GeometryElement
+struct ShapeGeometry <: Gadfly.GeometryElement
    vertices::AbstractVector #{Tuple{Float64,Float64}}
    tag::Symbol

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ function make_polygon(geom::ShapeGeometry, xs::AbstractArray, ys::AbstractArray,
    x = Compose.x_measure(xs[mod1(i, length(xs))])
    y = Compose.y_measure(ys[mod1(i, length(ys))])
    r = rs[mod1(i, length(rs))]
-    polys[i] = T[(x + r * sx, y + r * sy) for (sx,sy) in cycle(geom.vertices, i)]
+    polys[i] = T[(x + r * sx, y + r * sy) for (sx,sy) in _cycle(geom.vertices, i)]
  end
  Gadfly.polygon(polys, geom.tag)
 end
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ function _initialize_backend(::ImmerseBackend; kw...)
  end
 end

-function createImmerseFigure(d::KW)
-  w,h = d[:size]
-  figidx = Immerse.figure(; name = d[:window_title], width = w, height = h)
+function createImmerseFigure(plotattributes::KW)
+  w,h = plotattributes[:size]
+  figidx = Immerse.figure(; name = plotattributes[:window_title], width = w, height = h)
  Immerse.Figure(figidx)
 end

@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ end


 # create a blank Gadfly.Plot object
-# function _create_plot(pkg::ImmerseBackend, d::KW)
+# function _create_plot(pkg::ImmerseBackend, plotattributes::KW)
 #   # create the underlying Gadfly.Plot object
-#   gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(d)
+#   gplt = createGadflyPlotObject(plotattributes)
 #
 #   # save both the Immerse.Figure and the Gadfly.Plot
-#   Plot((nothing,gplt), pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+#   Plot((nothing,gplt), pkg, 0, plotattributes, KW[])
 # end
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend})
    (nothing, createGadflyPlotObject(plt.attr))
@@ -41,27 +41,27 @@ end


 # # plot one data series
-# function _series_added(::ImmerseBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
-#   addGadflySeries!(plt, d)
-#   push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
+# function _series_added(::ImmerseBackend, plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
+#   addGadflySeries!(plt, plotattributes)
+#   push!(plt.seriesargs, plotattributes)
 #   plt
 # end

 function _series_added(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, series::Series)
-    addGadflySeries!(plt, series.d)
+    addGadflySeries!(plt, series.plotattributes)
 end


-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, d::KW)
-  updateGadflyGuides(plt, d)
-  updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt, d)
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
+  updateGadflyGuides(plt, plotattributes)
+  updateGadflyPlotTheme(plt, plotattributes)
 end



 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

-function _add_annotations{X,Y,V}(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}})
+function _add_annotations(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}}) where {X,Y,V}
  for ann in anns
    push!(getGadflyContext(plt).guides, createGadflyAnnotationObject(ann...))
  end
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ function getxy(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, i::Integer)
  mapping[:x], mapping[:y]
 end

-function setxy!{X,Y}(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer)
+function setxy!(plt::Plot{ImmerseBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y}
  for mapping in getGadflyMappings(plt, i)
    mapping[:x], mapping[:y] = xy
  end
@@ -94,10 +94,10 @@ end
 #
 # function showSubplotObject(subplt::Subplot{ImmerseBackend})
 #   # create the Gtk window with vertical box vsep
-#   d = getattr(subplt,1)
-#   w,h = d[:size]
+#   plotattributes = getattr(subplt,1)
+#   w,h = plotattributes[:size]
 #   vsep = Gtk.GtkBoxLeaf(:v)
-#   win = Gtk.GtkWindowLeaf(vsep, d[:window_title], w, h)
+#   win = Gtk.GtkWindowLeaf(vsep, plotattributes[:window_title], w, h)
 #
 #   figindices = []
 #   row = Gtk.GtkBoxLeaf(:h)
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ is_subplot_supported(::QwtBackend) = true

 function _initialize_backend(::QwtBackend; kw...)
  @eval begin
-    warn("Qwt is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
+    @warn("Qwt is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
    import Qwt
    export Qwt
  end
@@ -52,84 +52,84 @@ const _qwtAliases = KW(
    :star8 => :star2,
  )

-function fixcolors(d::KW)
-  for (k,v) in d
+function fixcolors(plotattributes::KW)
+  for (k,v) in plotattributes
    if typeof(v) <: ColorScheme
-      d[k] = getColor(v)
+      plotattributes[k] = getColor(v)
    end
  end
 end

-function replaceQwtAliases(d, s)
-  if haskey(_qwtAliases, d[s])
-    d[s] = _qwtAliases[d[s]]
+function replaceQwtAliases(plotattributes, s)
+  if haskey(_qwtAliases, plotattributes[s])
+    plotattributes[s] = _qwtAliases[plotattributes[s]]
  end
 end

 function adjustQwtKeywords(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, iscreating::Bool; kw...)
-  d = KW(kw)
-  st = d[:seriestype]
+  plotattributes = KW(kw)
+  st = plotattributes[:seriestype]
  if st == :scatter
-    d[:seriestype] = :none
-    if d[:markershape] == :none
-      d[:markershape] = :circle
+    plotattributes[:seriestype] = :none
+    if plotattributes[:markershape] == :none
+      plotattributes[:markershape] = :circle
    end

  elseif st in (:hline, :vline)
-    addLineMarker(plt, d)
-    d[:seriestype] = :none
-    d[:markershape] = :circle
-    d[:markersize] = 1
+    addLineMarker(plt, plotattributes)
+    plotattributes[:seriestype] = :none
+    plotattributes[:markershape] = :circle
+    plotattributes[:markersize] = 1
    if st == :vline
-      d[:x], d[:y] = d[:y], d[:x]
+      plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y] = plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:x]
    end

  elseif !iscreating && st == :bar
-    d = barHack(; kw...)
+    plotattributes = barHack(; kw...)
  elseif !iscreating && st == :histogram
-    d = barHack(; histogramHack(; kw...)...)
+    plotattributes = barHack(; histogramHack(; kw...)...)
  end

-  replaceQwtAliases(d, :seriestype)
-  replaceQwtAliases(d, :markershape)
+  replaceQwtAliases(plotattributes, :seriestype)
+  replaceQwtAliases(plotattributes, :markershape)

-  for k in keys(d)
+  for k in keys(plotattributes)
    if haskey(_qwtAliases, k)
-      d[_qwtAliases[k]] = d[k]
+      plotattributes[_qwtAliases[k]] = plotattributes[k]
    end
  end

-  d[:x] = collect(d[:x])
-  d[:y] = collect(d[:y])
+  plotattributes[:x] = collect(plotattributes[:x])
+  plotattributes[:y] = collect(plotattributes[:y])

-  d
+  plotattributes
 end

-# function _create_plot(pkg::QwtBackend, d::KW)
+# function _create_plot(pkg::QwtBackend, plotattributes::KW)
 function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{QwtBackend})
  fixcolors(plt.attr)
  dumpdict(plt.attr,"\n\n!!! plot")
  o = Qwt.plot(zeros(0,0); plt.attr..., show=false)
-  # plt = Plot(o, pkg, 0, d, KW[])
+  # plt = Plot(o, pkg, 0, plotattributes, KW[])
  # plt
 end

-# function _series_added(::QwtBackend, plt::Plot, d::KW)
+# function _series_added(::QwtBackend, plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
 function _series_added(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, series::Series)
-  d = adjustQwtKeywords(plt, false; series.d...)
-  fixcolors(d)
-  dumpdict(d,"\n\n!!! plot!")
-  Qwt.oplot(plt.o; d...)
-  # push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
+  plotattributes = adjustQwtKeywords(plt, false; series.plotattributes...)
+  fixcolors(plotattributes)
+  dumpdict(plotattributes,"\n\n!!! plot!")
+  Qwt.oplot(plt.o; plotattributes...)
+  # push!(plt.seriesargs, plotattributes)
  # plt
 end


 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

-function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW, isx::Bool)
-  lims = get(d, isx ? :xlims : :ylims, nothing)
-  ticks = get(d, isx ? :xticks : :yticks, nothing)
+function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, plotattributes::KW, isx::Bool)
+  lims = get(plotattributes, isx ? :xlims : :ylims, nothing)
+  ticks = get(plotattributes, isx ? :xticks : :yticks, nothing)
  w = plt.o.widget
  axisid = Qwt.QWT.QwtPlot[isx ? :xBottom : :yLeft]

@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW, isx::Bool)
    w[:setAxisScale](axisid, lims...)
  end

-  if typeof(ticks) <: Range
+  if typeof(ticks) <: AbstractRange
    if isx
      plt.o.autoscale_x = false
    else
@@ -150,49 +150,49 @@ function updateLimsAndTicks(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW, isx::Bool)
    end
    w[:setAxisScale](axisid, float(minimum(ticks)), float(maximum(ticks)), float(step(ticks)))
  elseif !(ticks in (nothing, :none, :auto))
-    warn("Only Range types are supported for Qwt xticks/yticks. typeof(ticks)=$(typeof(ticks))")
+    @warn("Only Range types are supported for Qwt xticks/yticks. typeof(ticks)=$(typeof(ticks))")
  end

  # change the scale
  scalesym = isx ? :xscale : :yscale
-  if haskey(d, scalesym)
-    scaletype = d[scalesym]
+  if haskey(plotattributes, scalesym)
+    scaletype = plotattributes[scalesym]
    scaletype == :identity  && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLinearScaleEngine())
    # scaletype == :log       && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLogScaleEngine(e))
    # scaletype == :log2      && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLogScaleEngine(2))
    scaletype == :log10     && w[:setAxisScaleEngine](axisid, Qwt.QWT.QwtLog10ScaleEngine())
-    scaletype in supported_scales() || warn("Unsupported scale type: ", scaletype)
+    scaletype in supported_scales() || @warn("Unsupported scale type: ", scaletype)
  end

 end


-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW)
-  haskey(d, :title) && Qwt.title(plt.o, d[:title])
-  haskey(d, :xguide) && Qwt.xlabel(plt.o, d[:xguide])
-  haskey(d, :yguide) && Qwt.ylabel(plt.o, d[:yguide])
-  updateLimsAndTicks(plt, d, true)
-  updateLimsAndTicks(plt, d, false)
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
+  haskey(plotattributes, :title) && Qwt.title(plt.o, plotattributes[:title])
+  haskey(plotattributes, :xguide) && Qwt.xlabel(plt.o, plotattributes[:xguide])
+  haskey(plotattributes, :yguide) && Qwt.ylabel(plt.o, plotattributes[:yguide])
+  updateLimsAndTicks(plt, plotattributes, true)
+  updateLimsAndTicks(plt, plotattributes, false)
 end

-function _update_plot_pos_size(plt::AbstractPlot{QwtBackend}, d::KW)
-  haskey(d, :size) && Qwt.resizewidget(plt.o, d[:size]...)
-  haskey(d, :pos) && Qwt.movewidget(plt.o, d[:pos]...)
+function _update_plot_pos_size(plt::AbstractPlot{QwtBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
+  haskey(plotattributes, :size) && Qwt.resizewidget(plt.o, plotattributes[:size]...)
+  haskey(plotattributes, :pos) && Qwt.movewidget(plt.o, plotattributes[:pos]...)
 end


 # ----------------------------------------------------------------

        # curve.setPen(Qt.QPen(Qt.QColor(color), linewidth, self.getLineStyle(linestyle)))
-function addLineMarker(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, d::KW)
-  for yi in d[:y]
+function addLineMarker(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
+  for yi in plotattributes[:y]
    marker = Qwt.QWT.QwtPlotMarker()
-    ishorizontal = (d[:seriestype] == :hline)
+    ishorizontal = (plotattributes[:seriestype] == :hline)
    marker[:setLineStyle](ishorizontal ? 1 : 2)
    marker[ishorizontal ? :setYValue : :setXValue](yi)
-    qcolor = Qwt.convertRGBToQColor(getColor(d[:linecolor]))
-    linestyle = plt.o.widget[:getLineStyle](string(d[:linestyle]))
-    marker[:setLinePen](Qwt.QT.QPen(qcolor, d[:linewidth], linestyle))
+    qcolor = Qwt.convertRGBToQColor(getColor(plotattributes[:linecolor]))
+    linestyle = plt.o.widget[:getLineStyle](string(plotattributes[:linestyle]))
+    marker[:setLinePen](Qwt.QT.QPen(qcolor, plotattributes[:linewidth], linestyle))
    marker[:attach](plt.o.widget)
  end

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ function createQwtAnnotation(plt::Plot, x, y, val::AbstractString)
  marker[:attach](plt.o.widget)
 end

-function _add_annotations{X,Y,V}(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}})
+function _add_annotations(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}}) where {X,Y,V}
  for ann in anns
    createQwtAnnotation(plt, ann...)
  end
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ function getxy(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, i::Int)
  series.x, series.y
 end

-function setxy!{X,Y}(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer)
+function setxy!(plt::Plot{QwtBackend}, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y}
  series = plt.o.lines[i]
  series.x, series.y = xy
  plt
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ is_subplot_supported(::WinstonBackend) = false
 function _initialize_backend(::WinstonBackend; kw...)
  @eval begin
    # ENV["WINSTON_OUTPUT"] = "gtk"
-    warn("Winston is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
+    @warn("Winston is no longer supported... many features will likely be broken.")
    import Winston, Gtk
    export Winston, Gtk
  end
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ function _create_backend_figure(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend})
    )
 end

-copy_remove(d::KW, s::Symbol) = delete!(copy(d), s)
+copy_remove(plotattributes::KW, s::Symbol) = delete!(copy(plotattributes), s)

-function addRegressionLineWinston(d::KW, wplt)
-  xs, ys = regressionXY(d[:x], d[:y])
+function addRegressionLineWinston(plotattributes::KW, wplt)
+  xs, ys = regressionXY(plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y])
  Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Curve(xs, ys, kind="dotted"))
 end

@@ -93,22 +93,22 @@ function getWinstonItems(plt::Plot)
 end

 function _series_added(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, series::Series)
-    d = series.d
+    plotattributes = series.plotattributes
  window, canvas, wplt = getWinstonItems(plt)

  # until we call it normally, do the hack
-  if d[:seriestype] == :bar
-    d = barHack(;d...)
+  if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
+    plotattributes = barHack(;plotattributes...)
  end


  e = KW()
-  e[:color] = getColor(d[:linecolor])
-  e[:linewidth] = d[:linewidth]
-  e[:kind] = winston_linestyle[d[:linestyle]]
-  e[:symbolkind] = winston_marker[d[:markershape]]
+  e[:color] = getColor(plotattributes[:linecolor])
+  e[:linewidth] = plotattributes[:linewidth]
+  e[:kind] = winston_linestyle[plotattributes[:linestyle]]
+  e[:symbolkind] = winston_marker[plotattributes[:markershape]]
  # markercolor     # same choices as `color`, or :match will set the color to be the same as `color`
-  e[:symbolsize] = d[:markersize] / 5
+  e[:symbolsize] = plotattributes[:markersize] / 5

  # pos             # (Int,Int), move the enclosing window to this position
  # screen          # Integer, move enclosing window to this screen number (for multiscreen desktops)
@@ -116,69 +116,69 @@ function _series_added(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, series::Series)


  ## lintype :path, :step, :stepinverted, :sticks, :dots, :none, :histogram2d, :hexbin, :histogram, :bar
-  if d[:seriestype] == :none
-    Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Points(d[:x], d[:y]; copy_remove(e, :kind)..., color=getColor(d[:markercolor])))
+  if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :none
+    Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Points(plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]; copy_remove(e, :kind)..., color=getColor(plotattributes[:markercolor])))

-  elseif d[:seriestype] == :path
-    x, y = d[:x], d[:y]
+  elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :path
+    x, y = plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]
    Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Curve(x, y; e...))

-    fillrange = d[:fillrange]
+    fillrange = plotattributes[:fillrange]
    if fillrange != nothing
      if isa(fillrange, AbstractVector)
        y2 = fillrange
      else
        y2 = Float64[fillrange for yi in y]
      end
-      Winston.add(wplt, Winston.FillBetween(x, y, x, y2, fillcolor=getColor(d[:fillcolor])))
+      Winston.add(wplt, Winston.FillBetween(x, y, x, y2, fillcolor=getColor(plotattributes[:fillcolor])))
    end

-  elseif d[:seriestype] == :scatter
-    if d[:markershape] == :none
-      d[:markershape] = :circle
+  elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :scatter
+    if plotattributes[:markershape] == :none
+      plotattributes[:markershape] = :circle
    end

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :step
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :step
  #     fn = Winston.XXX

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :stepinverted
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :stepinverted
  #     fn = Winston.XXX

-  elseif d[:seriestype] == :sticks
-      Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Stems(d[:x], d[:y]; e...))
+  elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :sticks
+      Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Stems(plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]; e...))

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :dots
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :dots
  #     fn = Winston.XXX

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :histogram2d
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :histogram2d
  #     fn = Winston.XXX

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :hexbin
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :hexbin
  #     fn = Winston.XXX

-  elseif d[:seriestype] == :histogram
-      hst = hist(d[:y], d[:bins])
+  elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :histogram
+      hst = hist(plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:bins])
      Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Histogram(hst...; copy_remove(e, :bins)...))

-  # elseif d[:seriestype] == :bar
+  # elseif plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
  #     # fn = Winston.XXX

  else
-    error("seriestype $(d[:seriestype]) not supported by Winston.")
+    error("seriestype $(plotattributes[:seriestype]) not supported by Winston.")

  end


  # markershape
-  if d[:markershape] != :none
-    Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Points(d[:x], d[:y]; copy_remove(e, :kind)..., color=getColor(d[:markercolor])))
+  if plotattributes[:markershape] != :none
+    Winston.add(wplt, Winston.Points(plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]; copy_remove(e, :kind)..., color=getColor(plotattributes[:markercolor])))
  end


  # optionally add a regression line
-  d[:smooth] && d[:seriestype] != :histogram && addRegressionLineWinston(d, wplt)
+  plotattributes[:smooth] && plotattributes[:seriestype] != :histogram && addRegressionLineWinston(plotattributes, wplt)

-  # push!(plt.seriesargs, d)
+  # push!(plt.seriesargs, plotattributes)
  # plt
 end

@@ -192,17 +192,17 @@ const _winstonNames = KW(
    :yscale => :ylog,
  )

-function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, d::KW)
+function _update_plot_object(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, plotattributes::KW)
  window, canvas, wplt = getWinstonItems(plt)
  for k in (:xguide, :yguide, :title, :xlims, :ylims)
-    if haskey(d, k)
-      Winston.setattr(wplt, string(get(_winstonNames, k, k)), d[k])
+    if haskey(plotattributes, k)
+      Winston.setattr(wplt, string(get(_winstonNames, k, k)), plotattributes[k])
    end
  end

  for k in (:xscale, :yscale)
-    if haskey(d, k)
-      islogscale = d[k] == :log10
+    if haskey(plotattributes, k)
+      islogscale = plotattributes[k] == :log10
      Winston.setattr(wplt, (k == :xscale ? :xlog : :ylog), islogscale)
    end
  end
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ function createWinstonAnnotationObject(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, x, y, val::Abs
  Winston.text(x, y, val)
 end

-function _add_annotations{X,Y,V}(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}})
+function _add_annotations(plt::Plot{WinstonBackend}, anns::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,V}}) where {X,Y,V}
  for ann in anns
    createWinstonAnnotationObject(plt, ann...)
  end
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
    # work.  If not, see <http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/>.

 function sample_evenly(v::AVec, n::Integer = length(v))
-    idx = Int[round(Int, x) for x in linspace(1, length(v), n)]
+    idx = Int[round(Int, x) for x in range(1, stop=length(v), length=n)]
    v[idx]
 end

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@

-abstract ColorScheme
+abstract type ColorScheme end

 Base.getindex(scheme::ColorScheme, i::Integer) = getColor(scheme, i)

@@ -13,15 +13,15 @@ function cgrad(arg, values = nothing; alpha = nothing, scale = :identity)
    values = if values != nothing
        values
    elseif scale in (:log, :log10)
-        log10(linspace(1,10,30))
+        log10(range(1, stop=10, length=30))
    elseif scale == :log2
-        log2(linspace(1,2,30))
+        log2(range(1, stop=2, length=30))
    elseif scale == :ln
-        log(linspace(1,pi,30))
+        log(range(1, stop=pi, length=30))
    elseif scale in (:exp, :exp10)
-        (exp10(linspace(0,1,30)) - 1) / 9
+        (exp10(range(0, stop=1, length=30)) - 1) / 9
    else
-        linspace(0, 1, length(colors))
+        range(0, stop=1, length=length(colors))
    end
    ColorGradient(colors, values)
 end
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ getColorVector(scheme::ColorScheme) = [getColor(scheme)]
 colorscheme(scheme::ColorScheme) = scheme
 colorscheme(s::AbstractString; kw...) = colorscheme(Symbol(s); kw...)
 colorscheme(s::Symbol; kw...) = haskey(_gradients, s) ? ColorGradient(s; kw...) : ColorWrapper(convertColor(s); kw...)
-colorscheme{T<:Real}(s::Symbol, vals::AVec{T}; kw...) = ColorGradient(s, vals; kw...)
+colorscheme(s::Symbol, vals::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Real} = ColorGradient(s, vals; kw...)
 colorscheme(cs::AVec, vs::AVec; kw...) = ColorGradient(cs, vs; kw...)
-colorscheme{T<:Colorant}(cs::AVec{T}; kw...) = ColorGradient(cs; kw...)
+colorscheme(cs::AVec{T}; kw...) where {T<:Colorant} = ColorGradient(cs; kw...)
 colorscheme(f::Function; kw...) = ColorFunction(f; kw...)
 colorscheme(v::AVec; kw...) = ColorVector(v; kw...)
 colorscheme(m::AMat; kw...) = size(m,1) == 1 ? map(c->colorscheme(c; kw...), m) : [colorscheme(m[:,i]; kw...) for i in 1:size(m,2)]'
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ convertColor(c::Symbol) = parse(Colorant, string(c))
 convertColor(c::Colorant) = c
 convertColor(cvec::AbstractVector) = map(convertColor, cvec)
 convertColor(c::ColorScheme) = c
-convertColor(v::Void) = RGBA(0,0,0,0)
+convertColor(v::Nothing) = RGBA(0,0,0,0)
 convertColor(b::Bool) = b ? RGBA(0,0,0,1) : RGBA(0,0,0,0)

 function convertColor(c, α::Real)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function convertColor(c, α::Real)
  RGBA(RGB(getColor(c)), α)
 end
 convertColor(cs::AVec, α::Real) = map(c -> convertColor(c, α), cs)
-convertColor(c, α::Void) = convertColor(c)
+convertColor(c, α::Nothing) = convertColor(c)

 # backup... try to convert
 getColor(c) = convertColor(c)
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ const _gradients = KW(
    :lighttest    => map(c -> lighten(c, 0.3), _testColors),
  )

-function register_gradient_colors{C<:Colorant}(name::Symbol, colors::AVec{C})
+function register_gradient_colors(name::Symbol, colors::AVec{C}) where C<:Colorant
    _gradients[name] = colors
 end

@@ -109,24 +109,24 @@ default_gradient() = ColorGradient(:inferno)
 # --------------------------------------------------------------

 "Continuous gradient between values.  Wraps a list of bounding colors and the values they represent."
-immutable ColorGradient <: ColorScheme
+struct ColorGradient <: ColorScheme
  colors::Vector
  values::Vector

-  function ColorGradient{S<:Real}(cs::AVec, vals::AVec{S} = linspace(0, 1, length(cs)); alpha = nothing)
+  function ColorGradient(cs::AVec, vals::AVec{S} = range(0, stop=1, length=length(cs)); alpha = nothing) where S<:Real
    if length(cs) == length(vals)
      return new(convertColor(cs,alpha), collect(vals))
    end

    # # otherwise interpolate evenly between the minval and maxval
    # minval, maxval = minimum(vals), maximum(vals)
-    # vs = Float64[interpolate(minval, maxval, w) for w in linspace(0, 1, length(cs))]
+    # vs = Float64[interpolate(minval, maxval, w) for w in range(0, stop = 1, length = length(cs))]
    # new(convertColor(cs,alpha), vs)

    # interpolate the colors for each value
-    vals = merge(linspace(0, 1, length(cs)), vals)
+    vals = merge(range(0, stop=1, length=length(cs)), vals)
    grad = ColorGradient(cs)
-    cs = [getColorZ(grad, z) for z in linspace(0, 1, length(vals))]
+    cs = [getColorZ(grad, z) for z in range(0, stop=1, length=length(vals))]
    new(convertColor(cs, alpha), vals)
  end
 end
@@ -138,16 +138,16 @@ Base.getindex(cs::ColorGradient, z::Number) = getColorZ(cs, z)


 # create a gradient from a symbol (blues, reds, etc) and vector of boundary values
-function ColorGradient{T<:Real}(s::Symbol, vals::AVec{T} = 0:0; kw...)
+function ColorGradient(s::Symbol, vals::AVec{T} = 0:0; kw...) where T<:Real
  haskey(_gradients, s) || error("Invalid gradient symbol.  Choose from: ", sort(collect(keys(_gradients))))
  cs = _gradients[s]
  if vals == 0:0
-    vals = linspace(0, 1, length(cs))
+    vals = range(0, stop=1, length=length(cs))
  end
  ColorGradient(cs, vals; kw...)
 end

-# function ColorGradient{T<:Real}(cs::AVec, vals::AVec{T} = linspace(0, 1, length(cs)); kw...)
+# function ColorGradient{T<:Real}(cs::AVec, vals::AVec{T} = range(0, stop = 1, length = length(cs)); kw...)
 #   ColorGradient(map(convertColor, cs), vals; kw...)
 # end

@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ end
 # --------------------------------------------------------------

 "Wraps a function, taking an index and returning a Colorant"
-immutable ColorFunction <: ColorScheme
+struct ColorFunction <: ColorScheme
  f::Function
 end

@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ getColor(scheme::ColorFunction, idx::Int) = scheme.f(idx)
 # --------------------------------------------------------------

 "Wraps a function, taking an z-value and returning a Colorant"
-immutable ColorZFunction <: ColorScheme
+struct ColorZFunction <: ColorScheme
  f::Function
 end

@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ getColorZ(scheme::ColorZFunction, z::Real) = scheme.f(z)
 # --------------------------------------------------------------

 "Wraps a vector of colors... may be vector of Symbol/String/Colorant"
-immutable ColorVector <: ColorScheme
+struct ColorVector <: ColorScheme
  v::Vector{Colorant}
  ColorVector(v::AVec; alpha = nothing) = new(convertColor(v,alpha))
 end
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ getColorVector(scheme::ColorVector) = scheme.v
 # --------------------------------------------------------------

 "Wraps a single color"
-immutable ColorWrapper <: ColorScheme
+struct ColorWrapper <: ColorScheme
  c::RGBA
  ColorWrapper(c::Colorant; alpha = nothing) = new(convertColor(c, alpha))
 end
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ ColorWrapper(s::Symbol; alpha = nothing) = ColorWrapper(convertColor(parse(Color

 getColor(scheme::ColorWrapper, idx::Int) = scheme.c
 getColorZ(scheme::ColorWrapper, z::Real) = scheme.c
-convertColor(c::ColorWrapper, α::Void) = c.c
+convertColor(c::ColorWrapper, α::Nothing) = c.c

 # --------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ function generate_colorgradient(bgcolor = colorant"white";
      seed_colors,
      lchoices=Float64[lightness],
      cchoices=Float64[chroma],
-      hchoices=linspace(0, 340, 20)
+      hchoices=range(0, stop=340, length=20)
    )[2:end]
  gradient_from_list(colors)
 end
@@ -347,8 +347,8 @@ function get_color_palette(palette, bgcolor::Union{Colorant,ColorWrapper}, numco
  RGBA[getColorZ(grad, z) for z in zrng]
 end

-function get_color_palette{C<:Colorant}(palette::Vector{C},
-            bgcolor::Union{Colorant,ColorWrapper}, numcolors::Integer)
+function get_color_palette(palette::Vector{C},
+bgcolor::Union{Colorant,ColorWrapper}, numcolors::Integer) where C<:Colorant
  palette
 end

@@ -5,24 +5,24 @@
 # This should cut down on boilerplate code and allow more focused dispatch on type
 # note: returns meta information... mainly for use with automatic labeling from DataFrames for now

-typealias FuncOrFuncs @compat(Union{Function, AVec{Function}})
+const FuncOrFuncs = Union{Function, AVec{Function}}

-all3D(d::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image), get(d, :seriestype, :none))
+all3D(plotattributes::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image), get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none))

 # missing
-convertToAnyVector(v::@compat(Void), d::KW) = Any[nothing], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::Nothing, plotattributes::KW) = Any[nothing], nothing

 # fixed number of blank series
-convertToAnyVector(n::Integer, d::KW) = Any[zeros(0) for i in 1:n], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(n::Integer, plotattributes::KW) = Any[zeros(0) for i in 1:n], nothing

 # numeric vector
-convertToAnyVector{T<:Number}(v::AVec{T}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:Number} = Any[v], nothing

 # string vector
-convertToAnyVector{T<:@compat(AbstractString)}(v::AVec{T}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:AbstractString} = Any[v], nothing

-function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, d::KW)
-    if all3D(d)
+function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, plotattributes::KW)
+    if all3D(plotattributes)
        Any[Surface(v)]
    else
        Any[v[:,i] for i in 1:size(v,2)]
@@ -30,30 +30,30 @@ function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, d::KW)
 end

 # function
-convertToAnyVector(f::Function, d::KW) = Any[f], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(f::Function, plotattributes::KW) = Any[f], nothing

 # surface
-convertToAnyVector(s::Surface, d::KW) = Any[s], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(s::Surface, plotattributes::KW) = Any[s], nothing

 # # vector of OHLC
-# convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{OHLC}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+# convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{OHLC}, plotattributes::KW) = Any[v], nothing

 # dates
-convertToAnyVector{D<:Union{Date,DateTime}}(dts::AVec{D}, d::KW) = Any[dts], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(dts::AVec{D}, plotattributes::KW) where {D<:Union{Date,DateTime}} = Any[dts], nothing

 # list of things (maybe other vectors, functions, or something else)
-function convertToAnyVector(v::AVec, d::KW)
+function convertToAnyVector(v::AVec, plotattributes::KW)
    if all(x -> typeof(x) <: Number, v)
        # all real numbers wrap the whole vector as one item
        Any[convert(Vector{Float64}, v)], nothing
    else
        # something else... treat each element as an item
-        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, d)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
+        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, plotattributes)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
        # Any[vi for vi in v], nothing
    end
 end

-convertToAnyVector(t::Tuple, d::KW) = Any[t], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(t::Tuple, plotattributes::KW) = Any[t], nothing


 function convertToAnyVector(args...)
@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ end
 # TODO: can we avoid the copy here?  one error that crops up is that mapping functions over the same array
 #       result in that array being shared.  push!, etc will add too many items to that array

-compute_x(x::Void, y::Void, z)      = 1:size(z,1)
-compute_x(x::Void, y, z)            = 1:size(y,1)
+compute_x(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z)      = 1:size(z,1)
+compute_x(x::Nothing, y, z)            = 1:size(y,1)
 compute_x(x::Function, y, z)        = map(x, y)
 compute_x(x, y, z)                  = copy(x)

 # compute_y(x::Void, y::Function, z)  = error()
-compute_y(x::Void, y::Void, z)      = 1:size(z,2)
+compute_y(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z)      = 1:size(z,2)
 compute_y(x, y::Function, z)        = map(y, x)
 compute_y(x, y, z)                  = copy(y)

 compute_z(x, y, z::Function)        = map(z, x, y)
 compute_z(x, y, z::AbstractMatrix)  = Surface(z)
-compute_z(x, y, z::Void)            = nothing
+compute_z(x, y, z::Nothing)            = nothing
 compute_z(x, y, z)                  = copy(z)

 nobigs(v::AVec{BigFloat}) = map(Float64, v)
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ nobigs(v) = v
 end

 # not allowed
-compute_xyz(x::Void, y::FuncOrFuncs, z)       = error("If you want to plot the function `$y`, you need to define the x values!")
-compute_xyz(x::Void, y::Void, z::FuncOrFuncs) = error("If you want to plot the function `$z`, you need to define x and y values!")
-compute_xyz(x::Void, y::Void, z::Void)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::FuncOrFuncs, z)       = error("If you want to plot the function `$y`, you need to define the x values!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z::FuncOrFuncs) = error("If you want to plot the function `$z`, you need to define x and y values!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z::Nothing)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")

 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Holds all data needed for a documentation example... header, description, and plotting expression (Expr)
 """
-type PlotExample
+mutable struct PlotExample
  header::AbstractString
  desc::AbstractString
  exprs::Vector{Expr}
@@ -18,11 +18,18 @@ PlotExample("Lines",
 ),

 PlotExample("Functions, adding data, and animations",
-    "Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f, xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.\n\nGet series data: `x, y = plt[i]`.  Set series data: `plt[i] = (x,y)`. Add to the series with `push!`/`append!`.\n\nEasily build animations.  (`convert` or `ffmpeg` must be available to generate the animation.)  Use command `gif(anim, filename, fps=15)` to save the animation.",
+"""
+Plot multiple functions.  You can also put the function first, or use the form `plot(f,
+xmin, xmax)` where f is a Function or AbstractVector{Function}.\n\nGet series data:
+`x, y = plt[i]`.  Set series data: `plt[i] = (x,y)`. Add to the series with
+`push!`/`append!`.\n\nEasily build animations.  (`convert` or `ffmpeg` must be available
+to generate the animation.)  Use command `gif(anim, filename, fps=15)` to save the
+animation.
+""",
    [:(begin
        p = plot([sin,cos], zeros(0), leg=false)
        anim = Animation()
-        for x in linspace(0, 10π, 100)
+        for x in range(0, stop=10π, length=100)
            push!(p, x, Float64[sin(x), cos(x)])
            frame(anim)
        end
@@ -37,23 +44,36 @@ PlotExample("Parametric plots",
 ),

 PlotExample("Colors",
-    "Access predefined palettes (or build your own with the `colorscheme` method).  Line/marker colors are auto-generated from the plot's palette, unless overridden.  Set the `z` argument to turn on series gradients.",
+"""
+Access predefined palettes (or build your own with the `colorscheme` method).
+Line/marker colors are auto-generated from the plot's palette, unless overridden.  Set
+the `z` argument to turn on series gradients.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        y = rand(100)
-        plot(0:10:100,rand(11,4),lab="lines",w=3,palette=:grays,fill=0, α=0.6)
-        scatter!(y, zcolor=abs(y-.5), m=(:heat,0.8,stroke(1,:green)), ms=10*abs(y-0.5)+4, lab="grad")
+y = rand(100)
+plot(0:10:100,rand(11,4),lab="lines",w=3,palette=:grays,fill=0, α=0.6)
+scatter!(y, zcolor=abs.(y.-0.5), m=(:heat,0.8,Plots.stroke(1,:green)), ms=10*abs.(y.-0.5).+4,
+         lab="grad")
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Global",
-    "Change the guides/background/limits/ticks.  Convenience args `xaxis` and `yaxis` allow you to pass a tuple or value which will be mapped to the relevant args automatically.  The `xaxis` below will be replaced with `xlabel` and `xlims` args automatically during the preprocessing step. You can also use shorthand functions: `title!`, `xaxis!`, `yaxis!`, `xlabel!`, `ylabel!`, `xlims!`, `ylims!`, `xticks!`, `yticks!`",
+"""
+Change the guides/background/limits/ticks.  Convenience args `xaxis` and `yaxis` allow
+you to pass a tuple or value which will be mapped to the relevant args automatically.
+The `xaxis` below will be replaced with `xlabel` and `xlims` args automatically during
+the preprocessing step. You can also use shorthand functions: `title!`, `xaxis!`,
+`yaxis!`, `xlabel!`, `ylabel!`, `xlims!`, `ylims!`, `xticks!`, `yticks!`
+""",
    [:(begin
-        y = rand(20,3)
-        plot(y, xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip), background_color = RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2), leg=false)
-        hline!(mean(y,1)+rand(1,3), line=(4,:dash,0.6,[:lightgreen :green :darkgreen]))
-        vline!([5,10])
-        title!("TITLE")
-        yaxis!("YLABEL", :log10)
+using Statistics
+y = rand(20,3)
+plot(y, xaxis=("XLABEL",(-5,30),0:2:20,:flip), background_color = RGB(0.2,0.2,0.2),
+     leg=false)
+hline!(mean(y, dims = 1)+rand(1,3), line=(4,:dash,0.6,[:lightgreen :green :darkgreen]))
+vline!([5,10])
+title!("TITLE")
+yaxis!("YLABEL", :log10)
    end)]
 ),

@@ -66,17 +86,24 @@ PlotExample("Global",
 PlotExample("Images",
    "Plot an image.  y-axis is set to flipped",
    [:(begin
-        import Images
-        img = Images.load(Pkg.dir("PlotReferenceImages","Plots","pyplot","0.7.0","ref1.png"))
+    import FileIO, PlotReferenceImages
+    img = FileIO.load(joinpath(dirname(pathof(PlotReferenceImages)), "..", "Plots","pyplot","0.7.0","ref1.png"))
        plot(img)
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Arguments",
-    "Plot multiple series with different numbers of points.  Mix arguments that apply to all series (marker/markersize) with arguments unique to each series (colors).  Special arguments `line`, `marker`, and `fill` will automatically figure out what arguments to set (for example, we are setting the `linestyle`, `linewidth`, and `color` arguments with `line`.)  Note that we pass a matrix of colors, and this applies the colors to each series.",
+"""
+Plot multiple series with different numbers of points.  Mix arguments that apply to all
+series (marker/markersize) with arguments unique to each series (colors).  Special
+arguments `line`, `marker`, and `fill` will automatically figure out what arguments to
+set (for example, we are setting the `linestyle`, `linewidth`, and `color` arguments with
+`line`.)  Note that we pass a matrix of colors, and this applies the colors to each
+series.
+""",
    [:(begin
        ys = Vector[rand(10), rand(20)]
-        plot(ys, color=[:black :orange], line=(:dot,4), marker=([:hex :d],12,0.8,stroke(3,:gray)))
+        plot(ys, color=[:black :orange], line=(:dot,4), marker=([:hex :d],12,0.8,Plots.stroke(3,:gray)))
    end)]
 ),

@@ -115,20 +142,23 @@ PlotExample("Line types",
 PlotExample("Line styles",
    "",
    [:(begin
-        styles = filter(s -> s in Plots.supported_styles(), [:solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot])'
-        n = length(styles)
-        y = cumsum(randn(20,n),1)
-        plot(y, line = (5, styles), label = map(string,styles))
-    end)]
+styles = filter(s -> s in Plots.supported_styles(),
+                [:solid, :dash, :dot, :dashdot, :dashdotdot])
+styles = reshape(styles, 1, length(styles)) # Julia 0.6 unfortunately gives an error when transposing symbol vectors
+n = length(styles)
+y = cumsum(randn(20,n), dims = 1)
+plot(y, line = (5, styles), label = map(string,styles), legendtitle = "linestyle")
+             end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Marker types",
    "",
    [:(begin
-        markers = filter(m -> m in Plots.supported_markers(), Plots._shape_keys)'
+        markers = filter(m -> m in Plots.supported_markers(), Plots._shape_keys)
+        markers = reshape(markers, 1, length(markers))
        n = length(markers)
-        x = linspace(0,10,n+2)[2:end-1]
-        y = repmat(reverse(x)', n, 1)
+        x = range(0, stop=10, length=n+2)[2:end-1]
+        y = repeat(reshape(reverse(x),1,:), n, 1)
        scatter(x, y, m=(8,:auto), lab=map(string,markers), bg=:linen, xlim=(0,10), ylim=(0,10))
    end)]
 ),
@@ -143,79 +173,106 @@ PlotExample("Bar",
 PlotExample("Histogram",
    "",
    [:(begin
-        histogram(randn(1000), nbins=20)
+        histogram(randn(1000), bins = :scott, weights = repeat(1:5, outer = 200))
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Subplots",
-    """
-    Use the `layout` keyword, and optionally the convenient `@layout` macro to generate arbitrarily complex subplot layouts.
-    """,
+"""
+Use the `layout` keyword, and optionally the convenient `@layout` macro to generate
+arbitrarily complex subplot layouts.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        l = @layout([a{0.1h}; b [c;d e]])
-        plot(randn(100,5), layout=l, t=[:line :histogram :scatter :steppre :bar], leg=false, ticks=nothing, border=false)
+l = @layout([a{0.1h}; b [c;d e]])
+plot(randn(100,5), layout=l, t=[:line :histogram :scatter :steppre :bar], leg=false,
+     ticks=nothing, border=:none)
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Adding to subplots",
-    "Note here the automatic grid layout, as well as the order in which new series are added to the plots.",
+"""
+Note here the automatic grid layout, as well as the order in which new series are added
+to the plots.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        plot(Plots.fakedata(100,10), layout=4, palette=[:grays :blues :heat :lightrainbow], bg_inside=[:orange :pink :darkblue :black])
+plot(Plots.fakedata(100,10), layout=4, palette=[:grays :blues :heat :lightrainbow],
+     bg_inside=[:orange :pink :darkblue :black])
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("",
    "",
    [:(begin
-        srand(111)
+        using Random
+        Random.seed!(111)
        plot!(Plots.fakedata(100,10))
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Open/High/Low/Close",
-    "Create an OHLC chart.  Pass in a list of (open,high,low,close) tuples as your `y` argument.  This uses recipes to first convert the tuples to OHLC objects, and subsequently create a :path series with the appropriate line segments.",
+"""
+Create an OHLC chart.  Pass in a list of (open,high,low,close) tuples as your `y`
+argument.  This uses recipes to first convert the tuples to OHLC objects, and
+subsequently create a :path series with the appropriate line segments.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        n=20
-        hgt=rand(n)+1
-        bot=randn(n)
-        openpct=rand(n)
-        closepct=rand(n)
-        y = OHLC[(openpct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i], bot[i]+hgt[i], bot[i], closepct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i]) for i in 1:n]
-        ohlc(y)
+n=20
+hgt=rand(n).+1
+bot=randn(n)
+openpct=rand(n)
+closepct=rand(n)
+y = OHLC[(openpct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i], bot[i]+hgt[i], bot[i],
+          closepct[i]*hgt[i]+bot[i]) for i in 1:n]
+ohlc(y)
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Annotations",
-    "The `annotations` keyword is used for text annotations in data-coordinates.  Pass in a tuple (x,y,text) or a vector of annotations.  `annotate!(ann)` is shorthand for `plot!(; annotation=ann)`.  Series annotations are used for annotating individual data points.  They require only the annotation... x/y values are computed.  A `PlotText` object can be build with the method `text(string, attr...)`, which wraps font and color attributes.",
+"""
+The `annotations` keyword is used for text annotations in data-coordinates.  Pass in a
+tuple (x,y,text) or a vector of annotations.  `annotate!(ann)` is shorthand for `plot!(;
+annotation=ann)`.  Series annotations are used for annotating individual data points.
+They require only the annotation... x/y values are computed.  A `PlotText` object can be
+build with the method `text(string, attr...)`, which wraps font and color attributes.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        y = rand(10)
-        plot(y, annotations = (3,y[3],text("this is #3",:left)), leg=false)
-        annotate!([(5, y[5], text("this is #5",16,:red,:center)), (10, y[10], text("this is #10",:right,20,"courier"))])
-        scatter!(linspace(2,8,6), rand(6), marker=(50,0.2,:orange), series_annotations = ["series","annotations","map","to","series",text("data",:green)])
+y = rand(10)
+plot(y, annotations = (3,y[3],text("this is #3",:left)), leg=false)
+annotate!([(5, y[5], text("this is #5",16,:red,:center)),
+          (10, y[10], text("this is #10",:right,20,"courier"))])
+scatter!(range(2, stop=8, length=6), rand(6), marker=(50,0.2,:orange),
+         series_annotations = ["series","annotations","map","to","series",
+                               text("data",:green)])
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Custom Markers",
-    "A `Plots.Shape` is a light wrapper around vertices of a polygon.  For supported backends, pass arbitrary polygons as the marker shapes.  Note: The center is (0,0) and the size is expected to be rougly the area of the unit circle.",
+"""A `Plots.Shape` is a light wrapper around vertices of a polygon.  For supported
+backends, pass arbitrary polygons as the marker shapes.  Note: The center is (0,0) and
+the size is expected to be rougly the area of the unit circle.
+""",
    [:(begin
-        verts = [(-1.0,1.0),(-1.28,0.6),(-0.2,-1.4),(0.2,-1.4),(1.28,0.6),(1.0,1.0),
-                 (-1.0,1.0),(-0.2,-0.6),(0.0,-0.2),(-0.4,0.6),(1.28,0.6),(0.2,-1.4),
-                 (-0.2,-1.4),(0.6,0.2),(-0.2,0.2),(0.0,-0.2),(0.2,0.2),(-0.2,-0.6)]
-        x = 0.1:0.2:0.9
-        y = 0.7rand(5)+0.15
-        plot(x, y, line = (3,:dash,:lightblue), marker = (Shape(verts),30,RGBA(0,0,0,0.2)),
-                   bg=:pink, fg=:darkblue, xlim = (0,1), ylim=(0,1), leg=false)
+verts = [(-1.0,1.0),(-1.28,0.6),(-0.2,-1.4),(0.2,-1.4),(1.28,0.6),(1.0,1.0),
+         (-1.0,1.0),(-0.2,-0.6),(0.0,-0.2),(-0.4,0.6),(1.28,0.6),(0.2,-1.4),
+         (-0.2,-1.4),(0.6,0.2),(-0.2,0.2),(0.0,-0.2),(0.2,0.2),(-0.2,-0.6)]
+x = 0.1:0.2:0.9
+y = 0.7rand(5).+0.15
+plot(x, y, line = (3,:dash,:lightblue), marker = (Shape(verts),30,RGBA(0,0,0,0.2)),
+     bg=:pink, fg=:darkblue, xlim = (0,1), ylim=(0,1), leg=false)
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Contours",
-    "Any value for fill works here.  We first build a filled contour from a function, then an unfilled contour from a matrix.",
+"""
+Any value for fill works here.  We first build a filled contour from a function, then an
+unfilled contour from a matrix.
+""",
    [:(begin
        x = 1:0.5:20
        y = 1:0.5:10
        f(x,y) = (3x+y^2)*abs(sin(x)+cos(y))
-        X = repmat(x', length(y), 1)
-        Y = repmat(y, 1, length(x))
+        X = repeat(reshape(x,1,:), length(y), 1)
+        Y = repeat(y, 1, length(x))
        Z = map(f, X, Y)
        p1 = contour(x, y, f, fill=true)
        p2 = contour(x, y, Z)
@@ -236,11 +293,11 @@ PlotExample("3D",
    "",
    [:(begin
        n = 100
-        ts = linspace(0,8π,n)
+        ts = range(0, stop=8π, length=n)
        x = ts .* map(cos,ts)
        y = 0.1ts .* map(sin,ts)
        z = 1:n
-        plot(x, y, z, zcolor=reverse(z), m=(10,0.8,:blues,stroke(0)), leg=false, cbar=true, w=5)
+        plot(x, y, z, zcolor=reverse(z), m=(10,0.8,:blues,Plots.stroke(0)), leg=false, cbar=true, w=5)
        plot!(zeros(n),zeros(n),1:n, w=10)
    end)]
 ),
@@ -250,7 +307,7 @@ PlotExample("DataFrames",
    [:(begin
        import RDatasets
        iris = RDatasets.dataset("datasets", "iris")
-        scatter(iris, :SepalLength, :SepalWidth, group=:Species,
+        @df iris scatter(:SepalLength, :SepalWidth, group=:Species,
            title = "My awesome plot", xlabel = "Length", ylabel = "Width",
            marker = (0.5, [:cross :hex :star7], 12), bg=RGB(.2,.2,.2))
    end)]
@@ -260,15 +317,16 @@ PlotExample("Groups and Subplots",
    "",
    [:(begin
        group = rand(map(i->"group $i",1:4),100)
-        plot(rand(100), layout=@layout([a b;c]), group=group, linetype=[:bar :scatter :steppre])
+        plot(rand(100), layout=@layout([a b;c]), group=group,
+            linetype=[:bar :scatter :steppre], linecolor = :match)
    end)]
 ),

 PlotExample("Polar Plots",
    "",
    [:(begin
-        Θ = linspace(0,1.5π,100)
-        r = abs(0.1randn(100)+sin(3Θ))
+        Θ = range(0, stop=1.5π, length=100)
+        r = abs.(0.1randn(100)+sin.(3Θ))
        plot(Θ, r, proj=:polar, m=2)
    end)]
 ),
@@ -278,7 +336,7 @@ PlotExample("Heatmap, categorical axes, and aspect_ratio",
    [:(begin
        xs = [string("x",i) for i=1:10]
        ys = [string("y",i) for i=1:4]
-        z = float((1:4)*(1:10)')
+        z = float((1:4)*reshape(1:10,1,:))
        heatmap(xs, ys, z, aspect_ratio=1)
    end)]
 ),
@@ -286,9 +344,10 @@ PlotExample("Heatmap, categorical axes, and aspect_ratio",
 PlotExample("Layouts, margins, label rotation, title location",
    "",
    [:(begin
+        using Plots.PlotMeasures # for Measures, e.g. mm and px
        plot(rand(100,6),layout=@layout([a b; c]),title=["A" "B" "C"],
                        title_location=:left, left_margin=[20mm 0mm],
-                        bottom_margin=50px, xrotation=60)
+                        bottom_margin=10px, xrotation=60)
    end)]
 ),

@@ -297,10 +356,84 @@ PlotExample("Boxplot and Violin series recipes",
    [:(begin
        import RDatasets
        singers = RDatasets.dataset("lattice", "singer")
-        violin(singers, :VoicePart, :Height, line = 0, fill = (0.2, :blue))
-        boxplot!(singers, :VoicePart, :Height, line = (2,:black), fill = (0.3, :orange))
+        @df singers violin(:VoicePart, :Height, line = 0, fill = (0.2, :blue))
+        @df singers boxplot!(:VoicePart, :Height, line = (2,:black), fill = (0.3, :orange))
    end)]
-)
+),
+
+PlotExample("Animation with subplots",
+    "The `layout` macro can be used to create an animation with subplots.",
+    [:(begin
+        l = @layout([[a; b] c])
+        p = plot(plot([sin,cos],1,leg=false),
+        scatter([atan,cos],1,leg=false),
+        plot(log,1,xlims=(1,10π),ylims=(0,5),leg=false),layout=l)
+
+        anim = Animation()
+        for x = range(1, stop=10π, length=100)
+          plot(push!(p,x,Float64[sin(x),cos(x),atan(x),cos(x),log(x)]))
+          frame(anim)
+        end
+    end)]
+),
+
+PlotExample("Spy",
+"""
+For a matrix `mat` with unique nonzeros `spy(mat)` returns a colorless plot. If `mat` has
+various different nonzero values, a colorbar is added. The colorbar can be disabled with
+`legend = nothing`.
+""",
+    [:(begin
+    using SparseArrays
+    a = spdiagm(0 => ones(50), 1 => ones(49), -1 => ones(49), 10 => ones(40), -10 => ones(40))
+    b = spdiagm(0 => 1:50, 1 => 1:49, -1 => 1:49, 10 => 1:40, -10 => 1:40)
+    plot(spy(a), spy(b), title = ["Unique nonzeros" "Different nonzeros"])
+    end)]
+),
+
+PlotExample("Magic grid argument",
+"""
+The grid lines can be modified individually for each axis with the magic `grid` argument.
+""",
+    [:(begin
+    x = rand(10)
+    p1 = plot(x, title = "Default looks")
+    p2 = plot(x, grid = (:y, :olivedrab, :dot, 1, 0.9), title = "Modified y grid")
+    p3 = plot(deepcopy(p2), title = "Add x grid")
+    xgrid!(p3, :on, :cadetblue, 2, :dashdot, 0.4)
+    plot(p1, p2, p3, layout = (1, 3), label = "", fillrange = 0, fillalpha = 0.3)
+    end)]
+),
+
+PlotExample("Framestyle",
+"""
+The style of the frame/axes of a (sub)plot can be changed with the `framestyle`
+attribute. The default framestyle is `:axes`.
+""",
+    [:(begin
+    scatter(fill(randn(10), 6), fill(randn(10), 6),
+        framestyle = [:box :semi :origin :zerolines :grid :none],
+        title = [":box" ":semi" ":origin" ":zerolines" ":grid" ":none"],
+        color = permutedims(1:6), layout = 6, label = "", markerstrokewidth = 0,
+        ticks = -2:2)
+    end)]
+),
+
+PlotExample("Lines and markers with varying colors",
+"""
+You can use the `line_z` and `marker_z` properties to associate a color with
+each line segment or marker in the plot.
+""",
+    [:(begin
+        t = range(0, stop=1, length=100)
+        θ = 6π .* t
+        x = t .* cos.(θ)
+        y = t .* sin.(θ)
+        p1 = plot(x, y, line_z=t, linewidth=3, legend=false)
+        p2 = scatter(x, y, marker_z=(x,y)->x+y, color=:bluesreds, legend=false)
+        plot(p1, p2)
+    end)]
+),

 ]

@@ -309,7 +442,7 @@ PlotExample("Boxplot and Violin series recipes",
 # make and display one plot
 function test_examples(pkgname::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, disp = true)
  Plots._debugMode.on = debug
-  info("Testing plot: $pkgname:$idx:$(_examples[idx].header)")
+  @info("Testing plot: $pkgname:$idx:$(_examples[idx].header)")
  backend(pkgname)
  backend()
  map(eval, _examples[idx].exprs)
@@ -321,6 +454,13 @@ function test_examples(pkgname::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, disp = true)
 end

 # generate all plots and create a dict mapping idx --> plt
+"""
+test_examples(pkgname[, idx]; debug = false, disp = true, sleep = nothing,
+                                        skip = [], only = nothing
+
+Run the `idx` test example for a given backend, or all examples if `idx`
+is not specified.
+"""
 function test_examples(pkgname::Symbol; debug = false, disp = true, sleep = nothing,
                                        skip = [], only = nothing)
  Plots._debugMode.on = debug
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+function __init__()
+    if isdefined(Main, :PLOTS_DEFAULTS)
+        if haskey(Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS, :theme)
+            theme(Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS[:theme])
+        end
+        for (k,v) in Main.PLOTS_DEFAULTS
+            k == :theme || default(k, v)
+        end
+    end
+    pushdisplay(PlotsDisplay())
+
+    atreplinit(i -> begin
+        if PlotDisplay() in Base.Multimedia.displays
+            popdisplay(PlotsDisplay())
+        end
+        pushdisplay(PlotsDisplay())
+    end)
+
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "plotly.jl"))
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "gr.jl"))
+    include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "web.jl"))
+
+    @require GLVisualize = "4086de5b-f4b6-55f3-abb0-b8c73827585f" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "glvisualize.jl"))
+    @require HDF5 = "f67ccb44-e63f-5c2f-98bd-6dc0ccc4ba2f" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "hdf5.jl"))
+    @require InspectDR = "d0351b0e-4b05-5898-87b3-e2a8edfddd1d" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "inspectdr.jl"))
+    @require PGFPlots = "3b7a836e-365b-5785-a47d-02c71176b4aa" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "pgfplots.jl"))
+    @require PlotlyJS = "f0f68f2c-4968-5e81-91da-67840de0976a" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "plotlyjs.jl"))
+    @require PyPlot = "d330b81b-6aea-500a-939a-2ce795aea3ee" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "pyplot.jl"))
+    @require UnicodePlots = "b8865327-cd53-5732-bb35-84acbb429228" include(joinpath(@__DIR__, "backends", "unicodeplots.jl"))
+
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------
+    # IJulia
+    # ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @require IJulia = "7073ff75-c697-5162-941a-fcdaad2a7d2a" begin
+        if IJulia.inited
+
+            """
+            Add extra jupyter mimetypes to display_dict based on the plot backed.
+
+            The default is nothing, except for plotly based backends, where it
+            adds data for `application/vnd.plotly.v1+json` that is used in
+            frontends like jupyterlab and nteract.
+            """
+            _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot, out::Dict) = out
+            function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}, out::Dict)
+                out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = JSON.lower(plt.o)
+                out
+            end
+
+            function _extra_mime_info!(plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend}, out::Dict)
+                out["application/vnd.plotly.v1+json"] = Dict(
+                    :data => plotly_series(plt),
+                    :layout => plotly_layout(plt)
+                )
+                out
+            end
+
+            function IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot)
+                output_type = Symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
+                if output_type == :auto
+                    output_type = get(_best_html_output_type, backend_name(plt.backend), :svg)
+                end
+                out = Dict()
+                if output_type == :txt
+                    mime = "text/plain"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :png
+                    mime = "image/png"
+                    out[mime] = base64encode(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :svg
+                    mime = "image/svg+xml"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                elseif output_type == :html
+                    mime = "text/html"
+                    out[mime] = sprint(show, MIME(mime), plt)
+                else
+                    error("Unsupported output type $output_type")
+                end
+                _extra_mime_info!(plt, out)
+                out
+            end
+
+            ENV["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
+        end
+    end
+end
@@ -1,23 +1,19 @@

 # NOTE: (0,0) is the top-left !!!

-# allow pixels and percentages
-const px = AbsoluteLength(0.254)
-const pct = Length{:pct, Float64}(1.0)
-
 to_pixels(m::AbsoluteLength) = m.value / 0.254

 const _cbar_width = 5mm

-Base.:.*(m::Measure, n::Number) = m * n
-Base.:.*(n::Number, m::Measure) = m * n
+#Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Measure, n::Number) = m * n
+#Base.broadcast(::typeof(Base.:.*), m::Number, n::Measure) = m * n
 Base.:-(m::Measure, a::AbstractArray) = map(ai -> m - ai, a)
 Base.:-(a::AbstractArray, m::Measure) = map(ai -> ai - m, a)
 Base.zero(::Type{typeof(mm)}) = 0mm
 Base.one(::Type{typeof(mm)}) = 1mm
 Base.typemin(::typeof(mm)) = -Inf*mm
 Base.typemax(::typeof(mm)) = Inf*mm
-Base.convert{F<:AbstractFloat}(::Type{F}, l::AbsoluteLength) = convert(F, l.value)
+Base.convert(::Type{F}, l::AbsoluteLength) where {F<:AbstractFloat} = convert(F, l.value)

 # TODO: these are unintuitive and may cause tricky bugs
 # Base.:+(m1::AbsoluteLength, m2::Length{:pct}) = AbsoluteLength(m1.value * (1 + m2.value))
@@ -99,7 +95,7 @@ end
 # -----------------------------------------------------------

 # points combined by x/y, pct, and length
-type MixedMeasures
+mutable struct MixedMeasures
    xy::Float64
    pct::Float64
    len::AbsoluteLength
@@ -133,7 +129,12 @@ make_measure_hor(m::Measure) = m
 make_measure_vert(n::Number) = n * h
 make_measure_vert(m::Measure) = m

+"""
+    bbox(x, y, w, h [,originargs...])
+    bbox(layout)

+Create a bounding box for plotting
+"""
 function bbox(x, y, w, h, oarg1::Symbol, originargs::Symbol...)
    oargs = vcat(oarg1, originargs...)
    orighor = :left
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ function bbox(x, y, w, h, oarg1::Symbol, originargs::Symbol...)
        elseif oarg in (:top, :bottom, :vcenter)
            origver = oarg
        else
-            warn("Unused origin arg in bbox construction: $oarg")
+            @warn("Unused origin arg in bbox construction: $oarg")
        end
    end
    bbox(x, y, w, h; h_anchor = orighor, v_anchor = origver)
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ bottompad(layout::AbstractLayout) = 0mm
 # RootLayout

 # this is the parent of the top-level layout
-immutable RootLayout <: AbstractLayout end
+struct RootLayout <: AbstractLayout end

 Base.parent(::RootLayout) = nothing
 parent_bbox(::RootLayout) = defaultbox
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ bbox(::RootLayout) = defaultbox
 # EmptyLayout

 # contains blank space
-type EmptyLayout <: AbstractLayout
+mutable struct EmptyLayout <: AbstractLayout
    parent::AbstractLayout
    bbox::BoundingBox
    attr::KW  # store label, width, and height for initialization
@@ -243,7 +244,7 @@ _update_min_padding!(layout::EmptyLayout) = nothing
 # GridLayout

 # nested, gridded layout with optional size percentages
-type GridLayout <: AbstractLayout
+mutable struct GridLayout <: AbstractLayout
    parent::AbstractLayout
    minpad::Tuple # leftpad, toppad, rightpad, bottompad
    bbox::BoundingBox
@@ -253,6 +254,13 @@ type GridLayout <: AbstractLayout
    attr::KW
 end

+"""
+    grid(args...; kw...)
+
+Create a grid layout for subplots. `args` specify the dimensions, e.g.
+`grid(3,2, widths = (0.6,04))` creates a grid with three rows and two
+columns of different width.
+"""
 grid(args...; kw...) = GridLayout(args...; kw...)

 function GridLayout(dims...;
@@ -260,7 +268,7 @@ function GridLayout(dims...;
                    widths = zeros(dims[2]),
                    heights = zeros(dims[1]),
                    kw...)
-    grid = Matrix{AbstractLayout}(dims...)
+    grid = Matrix{AbstractLayout}(undef, dims...)
    layout = GridLayout(
        parent,
        (20mm, 5mm, 2mm, 10mm),
@@ -349,10 +357,10 @@ function update_child_bboxes!(layout::GridLayout, minimum_perimeter = [0mm,0mm,0
    # get the max horizontal (left and right) padding over columns,
    # and max vertical (bottom and top) padding over rows
    # TODO: add extra padding here
-    pad_left   = maximum(minpad_left,   1)
-    pad_top    = maximum(minpad_top,    2)
-    pad_right  = maximum(minpad_right,  1)
-    pad_bottom = maximum(minpad_bottom, 2)
+    pad_left   = maximum(minpad_left,   dims = 1)
+    pad_top    = maximum(minpad_top,    dims = 2)
+    pad_right  = maximum(minpad_right,  dims = 1)
+    pad_bottom = maximum(minpad_bottom, dims = 2)

    # make sure the perimeter match the parent
    pad_left[1]     = max(pad_left[1], minimum_perimeter[1])
@@ -456,12 +464,12 @@ end
 # constructors

 # pass the layout arg through
-function layout_args(d::KW)
-    layout_args(get(d, :layout, default(:layout)))
+function layout_args(plotattributes::KW)
+    layout_args(get(plotattributes, :layout, default(:layout)))
 end

-function layout_args(d::KW, n_override::Integer)
-    layout, n = layout_args(get(d, :layout, n_override))
+function layout_args(plotattributes::KW, n_override::Integer)
+    layout, n = layout_args(get(plotattributes, :layout, n_override))
    if n != n_override
        error("When doing layout, n ($n) != n_override ($(n_override)).  You're probably trying to force existing plots into a layout that doesn't fit them.")
    end
@@ -473,12 +481,12 @@ function layout_args(n::Integer)
    GridLayout(nr, nc), n
 end

-function layout_args{I<:Integer}(sztup::NTuple{2,I})
+function layout_args(sztup::NTuple{2,I}) where I<:Integer
    nr, nc = sztup
    GridLayout(nr, nc), nr*nc
 end

-function layout_args{I<:Integer}(sztup::NTuple{3,I})
+function layout_args(sztup::NTuple{3,I}) where I<:Integer
    n, nr, nc = sztup
    nr, nc = compute_gridsize(n, nr, nc)
    GridLayout(nr, nc), n
@@ -558,7 +566,7 @@ function build_layout(layout::GridLayout, numsp::Integer, plts::AVec{Plot})
    for r=1:nr, c=1:nc
        l = layout[r,c]
        if isa(l, EmptyLayout) && !get(l.attr, :blank, false)
-            plt = shift!(plts)  # grab the first plot out of the list
+            plt = popfirst!(plts)  # grab the first plot out of the list
            layout[r,c] = plt.layout
            append!(subplots, plt.subplots)
            merge!(spmap, plt.spmap)
@@ -704,7 +712,7 @@ function link_axes!(axes::Axis...)
    a1 = axes[1]
    for i=2:length(axes)
        a2 = axes[i]
-        expand_extrema!(a1, extrema(a2))
+        expand_extrema!(a1, ignorenan_extrema(a2))
        for k in (:extrema, :discrete_values, :continuous_values, :discrete_map)
            a2[k] = a1[k]
        end
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ ps(fn::AbstractString) = ps(current(), fn)
 function eps(plt::Plot, fn::AbstractString)
  fn = addExtension(fn, "eps")
  io = open(fn, "w")
-  writemime(io, MIME("image/eps"), plt)
+  show(io, MIME("image/eps"), plt)
  close(io)
 end
 eps(fn::AbstractString) = eps(current(), fn)
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ function addExtension(fn::AbstractString, ext::AbstractString)
  end
 end

+"""
+    savefig([plot,] filename)
+
+Save a Plot (the current plot if `plot` is not passed) to file. The file
+type is inferred from the file extension. All backends support png and pdf
+file types, some also support svg, ps, eps, html and tex.
+"""
 function savefig(plt::Plot, fn::AbstractString)

  # get the extension
@@ -119,7 +126,11 @@ savefig(fn::AbstractString) = savefig(current(), fn)


 # ---------------------------------------------------------
+"""
+    gui([plot])

+Display a plot using the backends' gui window
+"""
 gui(plt::Plot = current()) = display(PlotsDisplay(), plt)

 # IJulia only... inline display
@@ -134,10 +145,6 @@ function Base.display(::PlotsDisplay, plt::Plot)
    _display(plt)
 end

-# override the REPL display to open a gui window
-Base.display(::Base.REPL.REPLDisplay, ::MIME"text/plain", plt::Plot) = gui(plt)
-
-
 _do_plot_show(plt, showval::Bool) = showval && gui(plt)
 function _do_plot_show(plt, showval::Symbol)
    showval == :gui && gui(plt)
@@ -146,67 +153,70 @@ end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

-const _mimeformats = Dict(
-    "application/eps"         => "eps",
-    "image/eps"               => "eps",
-    "application/pdf"         => "pdf",
-    "image/png"               => "png",
-    "application/postscript"  => "ps",
-    "image/svg+xml"           => "svg",
-    "text/plain"              => "txt",
-    "application/x-tex"       => "tex",
-)
-
 const _best_html_output_type = KW(
    :pyplot => :png,
    :unicodeplots => :txt,
-    :glvisualize => :png
+    :glvisualize => :png,
+    :plotlyjs => :html,
+    :plotly => :html
 )

 # a backup for html... passes to svg or png depending on the html_output_format arg
-function Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot)
+function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot)
    output_type = Symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
    if output_type == :auto
        output_type = get(_best_html_output_type, backend_name(plt.backend), :svg)
    end
    if output_type == :png
-        # info("writing png to html output")
+        # @info("writing png to html output")
        print(io, "<img src=\"data:image/png;base64,", base64encode(show, MIME("image/png"), plt), "\" />")
    elseif output_type == :svg
-        # info("writing svg to html output")
+        # @info("writing svg to html output")
        show(io, MIME("image/svg+xml"), plt)
    elseif output_type == :txt
        show(io, MIME("text/plain"), plt)
    else
-        error("only png or svg allowed. got: $output_type")
+        error("only png or svg allowed. got: $(repr(output_type))")
    end
 end

-function _show{B}(io::IO, m, plt::Plot{B})
-    # Base.show_backtrace(STDOUT, backtrace())
-    warn("_show is not defined for this backend. m=", string(m))
+# delegate showable to _show instead
+function Base.showable(m::M, plt::P) where {M<:MIME, P<:Plot}
+    return hasmethod(_show, Tuple{IO, M, P})
 end
+
 function _display(plt::Plot)
-    warn("_display is not defined for this backend.")
+    @warn("_display is not defined for this backend.")
 end

 # for writing to io streams... first prepare, then callback
-for mime in keys(_mimeformats)
-    @eval function Base.show{B}(io::IO, m::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{B})
-        prepare_output(plt)
-        _show(io, m, plt)
+for mime in ("text/plain", "text/html", "image/png", "image/eps", "image/svg+xml",
+             "application/eps", "application/pdf", "application/postscript",
+             "application/x-tex")
+    @eval function Base.show(io::IO, m::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot)
+        if haskey(io, :juno_plotsize)
+          showjuno(io, m, plt)
+        else
+          prepare_output(plt)
+          _show(io, m, plt)
+        end
    end
 end

+# default text/plain for all backends
+_show(io::IO, ::MIME{Symbol("text/plain")}, plt::Plot) = show(io, plt)
+
+"Close all open gui windows of the current backend"
 closeall() = closeall(backend())


 # ---------------------------------------------------------
 # A backup, if no PNG generation is defined, is to try to make a PDF and use FileIO to convert

+const PDFBackends = Union{PGFPlotsBackend,PlotlyJSBackend,PyPlotBackend,InspectDRBackend,GRBackend}
 if is_installed("FileIO")
    @eval import FileIO
-    function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::Plot)
+    function _show(io::IO, ::MIME"image/png", plt::Plot{<:PDFBackends})
        fn = tempname()

        # first save a pdf file
@@ -220,14 +230,10 @@ if is_installed("FileIO")
        FileIO.save(pngfn, s)

        # now write from the file
-        write(io, readall(open(pngfn)))
+        write(io, read(open(pngfn), String))
    end
 end

-
-
-
-
 # function html_output_format(fmt)
 #     if fmt == "png"
 #         @eval function Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot)
@@ -244,84 +250,26 @@ end
 #
 # html_output_format("svg")

-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-# IJulia
-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-
-const _ijulia_output = String["text/html"]
-
-function setup_ijulia()
-    # override IJulia inline display
-    if isijulia()
-        @eval begin
-            import IJulia
-            export set_ijulia_output
-            function set_ijulia_output(mimestr::AbstractString)
-                # info("Setting IJulia output format to $mimestr")
-                global _ijulia_output
-                _ijulia_output[1] = mimestr
-            end
-            function IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot)
-                global _ijulia_output
-                Dict{String, String}(_ijulia_output[1] => sprint(show, _ijulia_output[1], plt))
-            end
-
-            # default text/plain passes to html... handles Interact issues
-            function Base.show(io::IO, m::MIME"text/plain", plt::Plot)
-                show(io, MIME("text/html"), plt)
-            end
-        end
-        set_ijulia_output("text/html")
-    end
-end

 # ---------------------------------------------------------
 # Atom PlotPane
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
+function showjuno(io::IO, m, plt)
+    sz = plt[:size]
+    dpi = plt[:dpi]
+    thickness_scaling = plt[:thickness_scaling]

-function setup_atom()
-    if isatom()
-        @eval import Atom, Media
-        Media.media(Plot, Media.Plot)
+    jsize = get(io, :juno_plotsize, [400, 500])

-        # default text/plain so it doesn't complain
-        function Base.show{B}(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", plt::Plot{B})
-            print(io, "Plot{$B}()")
-        end
+    scale = minimum(jsize[i] / sz[i] for i in 1:2)
+    plt[:size] = (s * scale for s in sz)
+    plt[:dpi] = Plots.DPI
+    plt[:thickness_scaling] *= scale

-        function Media.render(e::Atom.Editor, plt::Plot)
-            Media.render(e, nothing)
-        end
+    prepare_output(plt)
+    _show(io, m, plt)

-        if get(ENV, "PLOTS_USE_ATOM_PLOTPANE", true) in (true, 1, "1", "true", "yes")
-            # this is like "display"... sends an html div with the plot to the PlotPane
-            function Media.render(pane::Atom.PlotPane, plt::Plot)
-                # temporarily overwrite size to be Atom.plotsize
-                sz = plt[:size]
-                plt[:size] = Juno.plotsize()
-                Media.render(pane, Atom.div(".fill", Atom.HTML(stringmime(MIME("text/html"), plt))))
-                plt[:size] = sz
-            end
-        else
-            #
-            function Media.render(pane::Atom.PlotPane, plt::Plot)
-                display(Plots.PlotsDisplay(), plt)
-                s = "PlotPane turned off.  Unset ENV[\"PLOTS_USE_ATOM_PLOTPANE\"] and restart Julia to enable it."
-                Media.render(pane, Atom.div(Atom.HTML(s)))
-            end
-        end
-
-        # special handling for plotly... use PlotsDisplay
-        function Media.render(pane::Atom.PlotPane, plt::Plot{PlotlyBackend})
-            display(Plots.PlotsDisplay(), plt)
-            s = "PlotPane turned off.  The plotly and plotlyjs backends cannot render in the PlotPane due to javascript issues."
-            Media.render(pane, Atom.div(Atom.HTML(s)))
-        end
-
-        # special handling for PlotlyJS to pass through to that render method
-        function Media.render(pane::Atom.PlotPane, plt::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend})
-            Plots.prepare_output(plt)
-            Media.render(pane, plt.o)
-        end
-    end
+    plt[:size] = sz
+    plt[:dpi] = dpi
+    plt[:thickness_scaling] = thickness_scaling
 end
@@ -7,42 +7,44 @@ function command_idx(kw_list::AVec{KW}, kw::KW)
    Int(kw[:series_plotindex]) - Int(kw_list[1][:series_plotindex]) + 1
 end

-function _expand_seriestype_array(d::KW, args)
-    sts = get(d, :seriestype, :path)
+function _expand_seriestype_array(plotattributes::KW, args)
+    sts = get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :path)
    if typeof(sts) <: AbstractArray
-        delete!(d, :seriestype)
-        RecipeData[begin
-            dc = copy(d)
+        delete!(plotattributes, :seriestype)
+        rd = Vector{RecipeData}(undef, size(sts, 1))
+        for r in 1:size(sts, 1)
+            dc = copy(plotattributes)
            dc[:seriestype] = sts[r:r,:]
-            RecipeData(dc, args)
-        end for r=1:size(sts,1)]
+            rd[r] = RecipeData(dc, args)
+        end
+        rd
    else
-        RecipeData[RecipeData(copy(d), args)]
+        RecipeData[RecipeData(copy(plotattributes), args)]
    end
 end

-function _preprocess_args(d::KW, args, still_to_process::Vector{RecipeData})
+function _preprocess_args(plotattributes::KW, args, still_to_process::Vector{RecipeData})
    # the grouping mechanism is a recipe on a GroupBy object
    # we simply add the GroupBy object to the front of the args list to allow
    # the recipe to be applied
-    if haskey(d, :group)
-        args = (extractGroupArgs(d[:group], args...), args...)
+    if haskey(plotattributes, :group)
+        args = (extractGroupArgs(plotattributes[:group], args...), args...)
    end

    # if we were passed a vector/matrix of seriestypes and there's more than one row,
    # we want to duplicate the inputs, once for each seriestype row.
    if !isempty(args)
-        append!(still_to_process, _expand_seriestype_array(d, args))
+        append!(still_to_process, _expand_seriestype_array(plotattributes, args))
    end

-    # remove subplot and axis args from d... they will be passed through in the kw_list
+    # remove subplot and axis args from plotattributes... they will be passed through in the kw_list
    if !isempty(args)
-        for (k,v) in d
+        for (k,v) in plotattributes
            for defdict in (_subplot_defaults,
                            _axis_defaults,
                            _axis_defaults_byletter)
                if haskey(defdict, k)
-                    delete!(d, k)
+                    delete!(plotattributes, k)
                end
            end
        end
@@ -55,46 +57,43 @@ end
 # user recipes


-function _process_userrecipes(plt::Plot, d::KW, args)
+function _process_userrecipes(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, args)
    still_to_process = RecipeData[]
-    args = _preprocess_args(d, args, still_to_process)
+    args = _preprocess_args(plotattributes, args, still_to_process)

    # for plotting recipes, swap out the args and update the parameter dictionary
-    # we are keeping a queue of series that still need to be processed.
+    # we are keeping a stack of series that still need to be processed.
    # each pass through the loop, we pop one off and apply the recipe.
    # the recipe will return a list a Series objects... the ones that are
-    # finished (no more args) get added to the kw_list, and the rest go into the queue
-    # for processing.
+    # finished (no more args) get added to the kw_list, the ones that are not
+    # are placed on top of the stack and are then processed further.
    kw_list = KW[]
    while !isempty(still_to_process)
-        # grab the first in line to be processed and pass it through apply_recipe
-        # to generate a list of RecipeData objects (data + attributes)
-        next_series = shift!(still_to_process)
-        rd_list = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(next_series.d, next_series.args...)
-        for recipedata in rd_list
-            # recipedata should be of type RecipeData.  if it's not then the inputs must not have been fully processed by recipes
-            if !(typeof(recipedata) <: RecipeData)
-                error("Inputs couldn't be processed... expected RecipeData but got: $recipedata")
-            end
-
-            if isempty(recipedata.args)
-                _process_userrecipe(plt, kw_list, recipedata)
-            else
-                # args are non-empty, so there's still processing to do... add it back to the queue
-                push!(still_to_process, recipedata)
-            end
+        # grab the first in line to be processed and either add it to the kw_list or
+        # pass it through apply_recipe to generate a list of RecipeData objects (data + attributes)
+        # for further processing.
+        next_series = popfirst!(still_to_process)
+        # recipedata should be of type RecipeData.  if it's not then the inputs must not have been fully processed by recipes
+        if !(typeof(next_series) <: RecipeData)
+            error("Inputs couldn't be processed... expected RecipeData but got: $next_series")
+        end
+        if isempty(next_series.args)
+            _process_userrecipe(plt, kw_list, next_series)
+        else
+            rd_list = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(next_series.plotattributes, next_series.args...)
+            prepend!(still_to_process,rd_list)
        end
    end

    # don't allow something else to handle it
-    d[:smooth] = false
+    plotattributes[:smooth] = false
    kw_list
 end

 function _process_userrecipe(plt::Plot, kw_list::Vector{KW}, recipedata::RecipeData)
    # when the arg tuple is empty, that means there's nothing left to recursively
    # process... finish up and add to the kw_list
-    kw = recipedata.d
+    kw = recipedata.plotattributes
    preprocessArgs!(kw)
    _preprocess_userrecipe(kw)
    warnOnUnsupported_scales(plt.backend, kw)
@@ -118,12 +117,12 @@ function _preprocess_userrecipe(kw::KW)
    # map marker_z if it's a Function
    if isa(get(kw, :marker_z, nothing), Function)
        # TODO: should this take y and/or z as arguments?
-        kw[:marker_z] = map(kw[:marker_z], kw[:x], kw[:y], kw[:z])
+        kw[:marker_z] = isa(kw[:z], Nothing) ? map(kw[:marker_z], kw[:x], kw[:y]) : map(kw[:marker_z], kw[:x], kw[:y], kw[:z])
    end

    # map line_z if it's a Function
    if isa(get(kw, :line_z, nothing), Function)
-        kw[:line_z] = map(kw[:line_z], kw[:x], kw[:y], kw[:z])
+        kw[:line_z] = isa(kw[:z], Nothing) ? map(kw[:line_z], kw[:x], kw[:y]) : map(kw[:line_z], kw[:x], kw[:y], kw[:z])
    end

    # convert a ribbon into a fillrange
@@ -153,8 +152,8 @@ function _add_smooth_kw(kw_list::Vector{KW}, kw::KW)
    if get(kw, :smooth, false)
        x, y = kw[:x], kw[:y]
        β, α = convert(Matrix{Float64}, [x ones(length(x))]) \ convert(Vector{Float64}, y)
-        sx = [minimum(x), maximum(x)]
-        sy = β * sx + α
+        sx = [ignorenan_minimum(x), ignorenan_maximum(x)]
+        sy = β .* sx .+ α
        push!(kw_list, merge(copy(kw), KW(
            :seriestype => :path,
            :x => sx,
@@ -184,11 +183,11 @@ function _process_plotrecipe(plt::Plot, kw::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW}, still_to_pr
        st = kw[:seriestype] = get(_typeAliases, st, st)
        datalist = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(kw, Val{st}, plt)
        for data in datalist
-            preprocessArgs!(data.d)
-            if data.d[:seriestype] == st
-                error("Plot recipe $st returned the same seriestype: $(data.d)")
+            preprocessArgs!(data.plotattributes)
+            if data.plotattributes[:seriestype] == st
+                error("Plot recipe $st returned the same seriestype: $(data.plotattributes)")
            end
-            push!(still_to_process, data.d)
+            push!(still_to_process, data.plotattributes)
        end
    catch err
        if isa(err, MethodError)
@@ -204,16 +203,16 @@ end
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 # setup plot and subplot

-function _plot_setup(plt::Plot, d::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
+function _plot_setup(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
    # merge in anything meant for the Plot
    for kw in kw_list, (k,v) in kw
-        haskey(_plot_defaults, k) && (d[k] = pop!(kw, k))
+        haskey(_plot_defaults, k) && (plotattributes[k] = pop!(kw, k))
    end

    # TODO: init subplots here
-    _update_plot_args(plt, d)
+    _update_plot_args(plt, plotattributes)
    if !plt.init
-        plt.o = _create_backend_figure(plt)
+        plt.o = Base.invokelatest(_create_backend_figure, plt)

        # create the layout and subplots from the inputs
        plt.layout, plt.subplots, plt.spmap = build_layout(plt.attr)
@@ -253,7 +252,7 @@ function _plot_setup(plt::Plot, d::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
    plt[:inset_subplots] = nothing
 end

-function _subplot_setup(plt::Plot, d::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
+function _subplot_setup(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
    # we'll keep a map of subplot to an attribute override dict.
    # Subplot/Axis attributes set by a user/series recipe apply only to the
    # Subplot object which they belong to.
@@ -262,12 +261,12 @@ function _subplot_setup(plt::Plot, d::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
    for kw in kw_list
        # get the Subplot object to which the series belongs.
        sps = get(kw, :subplot, :auto)
-        sp = get_subplot(plt, cycle(sps == :auto ? plt.subplots : plt.subplots[sps], command_idx(kw_list,kw)))
+        sp = get_subplot(plt, _cycle(sps == :auto ? plt.subplots : plt.subplots[sps], command_idx(kw_list,kw)))
        kw[:subplot] = sp

        # extract subplot/axis attributes from kw and add to sp_attr
        attr = KW()
-        for (k,v) in kw
+        for (k,v) in collect(kw)
            if haskey(_subplot_defaults, k) || haskey(_axis_defaults_byletter, k)
                attr[k] = pop!(kw, k)
            end
@@ -277,14 +276,21 @@ function _subplot_setup(plt::Plot, d::KW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
                    attr[Symbol(letter,k)] = v
                end
            end
+            for k in (:scale,), letter in (:x,:y,:z)
+                # Series recipes may need access to this information
+                lk = Symbol(letter,k)
+                if haskey(attr, lk)
+                    kw[lk] = attr[lk]
+                end
+            end
        end
        sp_attrs[sp] = attr
    end

    # override subplot/axis args.  `sp_attrs` take precendence
    for (idx,sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
-        attr = if !haskey(d, :subplot) || d[:subplot] == idx
-            merge(d, get(sp_attrs, sp, KW()))
+        attr = if !haskey(plotattributes, :subplot) || plotattributes[:subplot] == idx
+            merge(plotattributes, get(sp_attrs, sp, KW()))
        else
            get(sp_attrs, sp, KW())
        end
@@ -297,13 +303,13 @@ end

 # getting ready to add the series... last update to subplot from anything
 # that might have been added during series recipes
-function _prepare_subplot{T}(plt::Plot{T}, d::KW)
-    st::Symbol = d[:seriestype]
-    sp::Subplot{T} = d[:subplot]
+function _prepare_subplot(plt::Plot{T}, plotattributes::KW) where T
+    st::Symbol = plotattributes[:seriestype]
+    sp::Subplot{T} = plotattributes[:subplot]
    sp_idx = get_subplot_index(plt, sp)
-    _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, d, sp_idx, true)
+    _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, plotattributes, sp_idx, true)

-    st = _override_seriestype_check(d, st)
+    st = _override_seriestype_check(plotattributes, st)

    # change to a 3d projection for this subplot?
    if is3d(st)
@@ -321,28 +327,28 @@ end
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 # series types

-function _override_seriestype_check(d::KW, st::Symbol)
+function _override_seriestype_check(plotattributes::KW, st::Symbol)
    # do we want to override the series type?
-    if !is3d(st)
-        z = d[:z]
-        if !isa(z, Void) && (size(d[:x]) == size(d[:y]) == size(z))
+    if !is3d(st) && !(st in (:contour,:contour3d))
+        z = plotattributes[:z]
+        if !isa(z, Nothing) && (size(plotattributes[:x]) == size(plotattributes[:y]) == size(z))
            st = (st == :scatter ? :scatter3d : :path3d)
-            d[:seriestype] = st
+            plotattributes[:seriestype] = st
        end
    end
    st
 end

-function _prepare_annotations(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
+function _prepare_annotations(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::KW)
    # strip out series annotations (those which are based on series x/y coords)
    # and add them to the subplot attr
    sp_anns = annotations(sp[:annotations])
-    # series_anns = annotations(pop!(d, :series_annotations, []))
+    # series_anns = annotations(pop!(plotattributes, :series_annotations, []))
    # if isa(series_anns, SeriesAnnotations)
-    #     series_anns.x = d[:x]
-    #     series_anns.y = d[:y]
+    #     series_anns.x = plotattributes[:x]
+    #     series_anns.y = plotattributes[:y]
    # elseif length(series_anns) > 0
-    #     x, y = d[:x], d[:y]
+    #     x, y = plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y]
    #     nx, ny, na = map(length, (x,y,series_anns))
    #     n = max(nx, ny, na)
    #     series_anns = [(x[mod1(i,nx)], y[mod1(i,ny)], text(series_anns[mod1(i,na)])) for i=1:n]
@@ -350,22 +356,26 @@ function _prepare_annotations(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
    # sp.attr[:annotations] = vcat(sp_anns, series_anns)
 end

-function _expand_subplot_extrema(sp::Subplot, d::KW, st::Symbol)
+function _expand_subplot_extrema(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::KW, st::Symbol)
    # adjust extrema and discrete info
    if st == :image
-        w, h = size(d[:z])
-        expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (0,w))
-        expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (0,h))
-        sp[:yaxis].d[:flip] = true
-    elseif !(st in (:pie, :histogram, :histogram2d))
-        expand_extrema!(sp, d)
+        xmin, xmax = ignorenan_extrema(plotattributes[:x]); ymin, ymax = ignorenan_extrema(plotattributes[:y])
+        expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (xmin, xmax))
+        expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (ymin, ymax))
+    elseif !(st in (:pie, :histogram, :bins2d, :histogram2d))
+        expand_extrema!(sp, plotattributes)
+    end
+    # expand for zerolines (axes through origin)
+    if sp[:framestyle] in (:origin, :zerolines)
+        expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], 0.0)
+        expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], 0.0)
    end
 end

-function _add_the_series(plt, sp, d)
-    warnOnUnsupported_args(plt.backend, d)
-    warnOnUnsupported(plt.backend, d)
-    series = Series(d)
+function _add_the_series(plt, sp, plotattributes)
+    warnOnUnsupported_args(plt.backend, plotattributes)
+    warnOnUnsupported(plt.backend, plotattributes)
+    series = Series(plotattributes)
    push!(plt.series_list, series)
    push!(sp.series_list, series)
    _series_added(plt, series)
@@ -375,37 +385,38 @@ end

 # this method recursively applies series recipes when the seriestype is not supported
 # natively by the backend
-function _process_seriesrecipe(plt::Plot, d::KW)
+function _process_seriesrecipe(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW)
    # replace seriestype aliases
-    st = Symbol(d[:seriestype])
-    st = d[:seriestype] = get(_typeAliases, st, st)
+    st = Symbol(plotattributes[:seriestype])
+    st = plotattributes[:seriestype] = get(_typeAliases, st, st)

    # shapes shouldn't have fillrange set
-    if d[:seriestype] == :shape
-        d[:fillrange] = nothing
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :shape
+        plotattributes[:fillrange] = nothing
    end

    # if it's natively supported, finalize processing and pass along to the backend, otherwise recurse
    if is_seriestype_supported(st)
-        sp = _prepare_subplot(plt, d)
-        _prepare_annotations(sp, d)
-        _expand_subplot_extrema(sp, d, st)
-        _add_the_series(plt, sp, d)
+        sp = _prepare_subplot(plt, plotattributes)
+        _prepare_annotations(sp, plotattributes)
+        _expand_subplot_extrema(sp, plotattributes, st)
+        _update_series_attributes!(plotattributes, plt, sp)
+        _add_the_series(plt, sp, plotattributes)

    else
        # get a sub list of series for this seriestype
-        datalist = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(d, Val{st}, d[:x], d[:y], d[:z])
+        datalist = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(plotattributes, Val{st}, plotattributes[:x], plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:z])

        # assuming there was no error, recursively apply the series recipes
        for data in datalist
            if isa(data, RecipeData)
-                preprocessArgs!(data.d)
-                if data.d[:seriestype] == st
+                preprocessArgs!(data.plotattributes)
+                if data.plotattributes[:seriestype] == st
                    error("The seriestype didn't change in series recipe $st.  This will cause a StackOverflow.")
                end
-                _process_seriesrecipe(plt, data.d)
+                _process_seriesrecipe(plt, data.plotattributes)
            else
-                warn("Unhandled recipe: $(data)")
+                @warn("Unhandled recipe: $(data)")
                break
            end
        end
@@ -1,18 +1,22 @@

-type CurrentPlot
-    nullableplot::Nullable{AbstractPlot}
+mutable struct CurrentPlot
+    nullableplot::Union{AbstractPlot, Nothing}
 end
-const CURRENT_PLOT = CurrentPlot(Nullable{AbstractPlot}())
+const CURRENT_PLOT = CurrentPlot(nothing)

-isplotnull() = isnull(CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot)
+isplotnull() = CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot == nothing

+"""
+    current()
+Returns the Plot object for the current plot
+"""
 function current()
    if isplotnull()
        error("No current plot/subplot")
    end
-    get(CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot)
+    CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot
 end
-current(plot::AbstractPlot) = (CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot = Nullable(plot))
+current(plot::AbstractPlot) = (CURRENT_PLOT.nullableplot = plot)

 # ---------------------------------------------------------

@@ -29,7 +33,7 @@ convertSeriesIndex(plt::Plot, n::Int) = n


 """
-The main plot command.  Use `plot` to create a new plot object, and `plot!` to add to an existing one:
+The main plot command. Use `plot` to create a new plot object, and `plot!` to add to an existing one:

 ```
    plot(args...; kw...)                  # creates a new plot window, and sets it to be the current
@@ -38,36 +42,37 @@ The main plot command.  Use `plot` to create a new plot object, and `plot!` to a
 ```

 There are lots of ways to pass in data, and lots of keyword arguments... just try it and it will likely work as expected.
-When you pass in matrices, it splits by columns.  See the documentation for more info.
+When you pass in matrices, it splits by columns. To see the list of available attributes, use the `plotattr([attr])`
+function, where `attr` is the symbol `:Series:`, `:Subplot:`, `:Plot` or `:Axis`. Pass any attribute to `plotattr`
+as a String to look up its docstring; e.g. `plotattr("seriestype")`.
 """
-
-# this creates a new plot with args/kw and sets it to be the current plot
 function plot(args...; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
+    # this creates a new plot with args/kw and sets it to be the current plot
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)

    # create an empty Plot then process
    plt = Plot()
-    # plt.user_attr = d
-    _plot!(plt, d, args)
+    # plt.user_attr = plotattributes
+    _plot!(plt, plotattributes, args)
 end

 # build a new plot from existing plots
 # note: we split into plt1 and plts_tail so we can dispatch correctly
 function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)

    # build our plot vector from the args
    n = length(plts_tail) + 1
-    plts = Array(Plot, n)
+    plts = Array{Plot}(undef, n)
    plts[1] = plt1
    for (i,plt) in enumerate(plts_tail)
        plts[i+1] = plt
    end

    # compute the layout
-    layout = layout_args(d, n)[1]
+    layout = layout_args(plotattributes, n)[1]
    num_sp = sum([length(p.subplots) for p in plts])

    # create a new plot object, with subplot list/map made of existing subplots.
@@ -78,26 +83,31 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
    # TODO: build the user_attr dict by creating "Any matrices" for the args of each subplot

    # TODO: replace this with proper processing from a merged user_attr KW
-    # update plot args, first with existing plots, then override with d
+    # update plot args, first with existing plots, then override with plotattributes
    for p in plts
-        _update_plot_args(plt, p.attr)
+        _update_plot_args(plt, copy(p.attr))
        plt.n += p.n
    end
-    _update_plot_args(plt, d)
+    _update_plot_args(plt, plotattributes)

    # pass new plot to the backend
    plt.o = _create_backend_figure(plt)
    plt.init = true

    series_attr = KW()
-    for (k,v) in d
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
        if haskey(_series_defaults, k)
-            series_attr[k] = pop!(d,k)
+            series_attr[k] = pop!(plotattributes,k)
        end
    end

-    # create the layout and initialize the subplots
+    # create the layout
    plt.layout, plt.subplots, plt.spmap = build_layout(layout, num_sp, copy(plts))
+
+    # do we need to link any axes together?
+    link_axes!(plt.layout, plt[:link])
+
+    # initialize the subplots
    cmdidx = 1
    for (idx, sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
        _initialize_subplot(plt, sp)
@@ -108,8 +118,8 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
        sp.plt = plt
        sp.attr[:subplot_index] = idx
        for series in serieslist
-            merge!(series.d, series_attr)
-            _add_defaults!(series.d, plt, sp, cmdidx)
+            merge!(series.plotattributes, series_attr)
+            _add_defaults!(series.plotattributes, plt, sp, cmdidx)
            push!(plt.series_list, series)
            _series_added(plt, series)
            cmdidx += 1
@@ -118,15 +128,12 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)

    # first apply any args for the subplots
    for (idx,sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
-        _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, d, idx, false)
+        _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, plotattributes, idx, false)
    end

-    # do we need to link any axes together?
-    link_axes!(plt.layout, plt[:link])
-
    # finish up
    current(plt)
-    _do_plot_show(plt, get(d, :show, default(:show)))
+    _do_plot_show(plt, get(plotattributes, :show, default(:show)))
    plt
 end

@@ -145,10 +152,10 @@ end

 # this adds to a specific plot... most plot commands will flow through here
 function plot!(plt::Plot, args...; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    # merge!(plt.user_attr, d)
-    _plot!(plt, d, args)
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    # merge!(plt.user_attr, plotattributes)
+    _plot!(plt, plotattributes, args)
 end

 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -156,21 +163,21 @@ end
 # this is the core plotting function.  recursively apply recipes to build
 # a list of series KW dicts.
 # note: at entry, we only have those preprocessed args which were passed in... no default values yet
-function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args::Tuple)
-    d[:plot_object] = plt
+function _plot!(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, args::Tuple)
+    plotattributes[:plot_object] = plt

    if !isempty(args) && !isdefined(Main, :StatPlots) &&
            first(split(string(typeof(args[1])), ".")) == "DataFrames"
-        warn("You're trying to plot a DataFrame, but this functionality is provided by StatPlots")
+        @warn("You're trying to plot a DataFrame, but this functionality is provided by StatPlots")
    end

    # --------------------------------
    # "USER RECIPES"
    # --------------------------------

-    kw_list = _process_userrecipes(plt, d, args)
+    kw_list = _process_userrecipes(plt, plotattributes, args)

-    # info(1)
+    # @info(1)
    # map(DD, kw_list)


@@ -185,18 +192,18 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args::Tuple)
    still_to_process = kw_list
    kw_list = KW[]
    while !isempty(still_to_process)
-        next_kw = shift!(still_to_process)
+        next_kw = popfirst!(still_to_process)
        _process_plotrecipe(plt, next_kw, kw_list, still_to_process)
    end

-    # info(2)
+    # @info(2)
    # map(DD, kw_list)

    # --------------------------------
    # Plot/Subplot/Layout setup
    # --------------------------------
-    _plot_setup(plt, d, kw_list)
-    _subplot_setup(plt, d, kw_list)
+    _plot_setup(plt, plotattributes, kw_list)
+    _subplot_setup(plt, plotattributes, kw_list)

    # !!! note: At this point, kw_list is fully decomposed into individual series... one KW per series.          !!!
    # !!!       The next step is to recursively apply series recipes until the backend supports that series type !!!
@@ -205,7 +212,7 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args::Tuple)
    # "SERIES RECIPES"
    # --------------------------------

-    # info(3)
+    # @info(3)
    # map(DD, kw_list)

    for kw in kw_list
@@ -276,11 +283,11 @@ end

 function plot(sp::Subplot, args...; kw...)
    plt = sp.plt
-    plot(plt, args...; kw..., subplot = findfirst(plt.subplots, sp))
+    plot(plt, args...; kw..., subplot = findfirst(isequal(sp), plt.subplots))
 end
 function plot!(sp::Subplot, args...; kw...)
    plt = sp.plt
-    plot!(plt, args...; kw..., subplot = findfirst(plt.subplots, sp))
+    plot!(plt, args...; kw..., subplot = findfirst(isequal(sp), plt.subplots))
 end

 # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+
+const _attribute_defaults =  Dict(:Series => _series_defaults,
+                        :Subplot => _subplot_defaults,
+                        :Plot => _plot_defaults,
+                        :Axis => _axis_defaults)
+
+attrtypes() = join(keys(_attribute_defaults), ", ")
+attributes(attrtype::Symbol) = sort(collect(keys(_attribute_defaults[attrtype])))
+
+function lookup_aliases(attrtype, attribute)
+    attribute = Symbol(attribute)
+    attribute = in(attribute, keys(_keyAliases)) ? _keyAliases[attribute] : attribute
+    in(attribute, keys(_attribute_defaults[attrtype])) && return attribute
+    error("There is no attribute named $attribute in $attrtype")
+end
+
+"""
+    plotattr([attr])
+
+Look up the properties of a Plots attribute, or specify an attribute type. Call `plotattr()` for options.
+The information is the same as that given on https://juliaplots.github.io/attributes/.
+"""
+function plotattr()
+    println("Specify an attribute type to get a list of supported attributes. Options are $(attrtypes())")
+end
+
+function plotattr(attrtype::Symbol)
+    in(attrtype, keys(_attribute_defaults)) || error("Viable options are $(attrtypes())")
+    println("Defined $attrtype attributes are:\n$(join(attributes(attrtype), ", "))")
+end
+
+function plotattr(attribute::AbstractString)
+    attribute = Symbol(attribute)
+    attribute = in(attribute, keys(_keyAliases)) ? _keyAliases[attribute] : attribute
+    for (k, v) in _attribute_defaults
+        if in(attribute, keys(v))
+            return plotattr(k, "$attribute")
+        end
+    end
+    error("There is no attribute named $attribute")
+end
+
+printnothing(x) = x
+printnothing(x::Nothing) = "nothing"
+
+function plotattr(attrtype::Symbol, attribute::AbstractString)
+    in(attrtype, keys(_attribute_defaults)) || ArgumentError("`attrtype` must match one of $(attrtypes())")
+
+    attribute = Symbol(lookup_aliases(attrtype, attribute))
+
+    desc = get(_arg_desc, attribute, "")
+    first_period_idx = findfirst(isequal('.'), desc)
+    typedesc = desc[1:first_period_idx-1]
+    desc = strip(desc[first_period_idx+1:end])
+    als = keys(filter(x->x[2]==attribute, _keyAliases)) |> collect |> sort
+    als = join(map(string,als), ", ")
+    def = _attribute_defaults[attrtype][attribute]
+
+
+    # Looks up the different elements and plots them
+    println("$(printnothing(attribute)) ", typedesc == "" ? "" : "{$(printnothing(typedesc))}", "\n",
+        als == "" ? "" : "$(printnothing(als))\n",
+        "\n$(printnothing(desc))\n",
+        "$(printnothing(attrtype)) attribute, ", def == "" ? "" : " default: $(printnothing(def))")
+end
@@ -6,24 +6,27 @@
 # This should cut down on boilerplate code and allow more focused dispatch on type
 # note: returns meta information... mainly for use with automatic labeling from DataFrames for now

-typealias FuncOrFuncs{F} Union{F, Vector{F}, Matrix{F}}
+const FuncOrFuncs{F} = Union{F, Vector{F}, Matrix{F}}

-all3D(d::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image), get(d, :seriestype, :none))
+all3D(plotattributes::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image, :plots_heatmap), get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none))
+
+# unknown
+convertToAnyVector(x, plotattributes::KW) = error("No user recipe defined for $(typeof(x))")

 # missing
-convertToAnyVector(v::Void, d::KW) = Any[nothing], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::Nothing, plotattributes::KW) = Any[nothing], nothing

 # fixed number of blank series
-convertToAnyVector(n::Integer, d::KW) = Any[zeros(0) for i in 1:n], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(n::Integer, plotattributes::KW) = Any[zeros(0) for i in 1:n], nothing

 # numeric vector
-convertToAnyVector{T<:Number}(v::AVec{T}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:Number} = Any[v], nothing

 # string vector
-convertToAnyVector{T<:AbstractString}(v::AVec{T}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:AbstractString} = Any[v], nothing

-function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, d::KW)
-    if all3D(d)
+function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, plotattributes::KW)
+    if all3D(plotattributes)
        Any[Surface(v)]
    else
        Any[v[:,i] for i in 1:size(v,2)]
@@ -31,33 +34,33 @@ function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, d::KW)
 end

 # function
-convertToAnyVector(f::Function, d::KW) = Any[f], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(f::Function, plotattributes::KW) = Any[f], nothing

 # surface
-convertToAnyVector(s::Surface, d::KW) = Any[s], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(s::Surface, plotattributes::KW) = Any[s], nothing

 # volume
-convertToAnyVector(v::Volume, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(v::Volume, plotattributes::KW) = Any[v], nothing

 # # vector of OHLC
-# convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{OHLC}, d::KW) = Any[v], nothing
+# convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{OHLC}, plotattributes::KW) = Any[v], nothing

 # # dates
-# convertToAnyVector{D<:Union{Date,DateTime}}(dts::AVec{D}, d::KW) = Any[dts], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(dts::AVec{D}, plotattributes::KW) where {D<:Union{Date,DateTime}} = Any[dts], nothing

 # list of things (maybe other vectors, functions, or something else)
-function convertToAnyVector(v::AVec, d::KW)
+function convertToAnyVector(v::AVec, plotattributes::KW)
    if all(x -> typeof(x) <: Number, v)
        # all real numbers wrap the whole vector as one item
        Any[convert(Vector{Float64}, v)], nothing
    else
        # something else... treat each element as an item
-        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, d)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
+        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, plotattributes)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
        # Any[vi for vi in v], nothing
    end
 end

-convertToAnyVector(t::Tuple, d::KW) = Any[t], nothing
+convertToAnyVector(t::Tuple, plotattributes::KW) = Any[t], nothing


 function convertToAnyVector(args...)
@@ -69,19 +72,19 @@ end
 # TODO: can we avoid the copy here?  one error that crops up is that mapping functions over the same array
 #       result in that array being shared.  push!, etc will add too many items to that array

-compute_x(x::Void, y::Void, z)      = 1:size(z,1)
-compute_x(x::Void, y, z)            = 1:size(y,1)
+compute_x(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z)      = 1:size(z,1)
+compute_x(x::Nothing, y, z)            = 1:size(y,1)
 compute_x(x::Function, y, z)        = map(x, y)
 compute_x(x, y, z)                  = copy(x)

 # compute_y(x::Void, y::Function, z)  = error()
-compute_y(x::Void, y::Void, z)      = 1:size(z,2)
+compute_y(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z)      = 1:size(z,2)
 compute_y(x, y::Function, z)        = map(y, x)
 compute_y(x, y, z)                  = copy(y)

 compute_z(x, y, z::Function)        = map(z, x, y)
 compute_z(x, y, z::AbstractMatrix)  = Surface(z)
-compute_z(x, y, z::Void)            = nothing
+compute_z(x, y, z::Nothing)            = nothing
 compute_z(x, y, z)                  = copy(z)

 nobigs(v::AVec{BigFloat}) = map(Float64, v)
@@ -96,9 +99,9 @@ nobigs(v) = v
 end

 # not allowed
-compute_xyz{F<:Function}(x::Void, y::FuncOrFuncs{F}, z)       = error("If you want to plot the function `$y`, you need to define the x values!")
-compute_xyz{F<:Function}(x::Void, y::Void, z::FuncOrFuncs{F}) = error("If you want to plot the function `$z`, you need to define x and y values!")
-compute_xyz(x::Void, y::Void, z::Void)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::FuncOrFuncs{F}, z) where {F<:Function}       = error("If you want to plot the function `$y`, you need to define the x values!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z::FuncOrFuncs{F}) where {F<:Function} = error("If you want to plot the function `$z`, you need to define x and y values!")
+compute_xyz(x::Nothing, y::Nothing, z::Nothing)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")

 # --------------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ compute_xyz(x::Void, y::Void, z::Void)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")
 # we are going to build recipes to do the processing and splitting of the args

 # ensure we dispatch to the slicer
-immutable SliceIt end
+struct SliceIt end

 # the catch-all recipes
@recipe function f(::Type{SliceIt}, x, y, z)
@@ -125,18 +128,26 @@ immutable SliceIt end
        z = z.data
    end

-    xs, _ = convertToAnyVector(x, d)
-    ys, _ = convertToAnyVector(y, d)
-    zs, _ = convertToAnyVector(z, d)
+    xs, _ = convertToAnyVector(x, plotattributes)
+    ys, _ = convertToAnyVector(y, plotattributes)
+    zs, _ = convertToAnyVector(z, plotattributes)

-    fr = pop!(d, :fillrange, nothing)
+    fr = pop!(plotattributes, :fillrange, nothing)
    fillranges, _ = if typeof(fr) <: Number
        ([fr],nothing)
    else
-        convertToAnyVector(fr, d)
+        convertToAnyVector(fr, plotattributes)
    end
    mf = length(fillranges)

+    rib = pop!(plotattributes, :ribbon, nothing)
+    ribbons, _ = if typeof(rib) <: Number
+        ([fr],nothing)
+    else
+        convertToAnyVector(rib, plotattributes)
+    end
+    mr = length(ribbons)
+
    # @show zs

    mx = length(xs)
@@ -145,7 +156,7 @@ immutable SliceIt end
    if mx > 0 && my > 0 && mz > 0
        for i in 1:max(mx, my, mz)
            # add a new series
-            di = copy(d)
+            di = copy(plotattributes)
            xi, yi, zi = xs[mod1(i,mx)], ys[mod1(i,my)], zs[mod1(i,mz)]
            di[:x], di[:y], di[:z] = compute_xyz(xi, yi, zi)

@@ -153,6 +164,10 @@ immutable SliceIt end
            fr = fillranges[mod1(i,mf)]
            di[:fillrange] = isa(fr, Function) ? map(fr, di[:x]) : fr

+            # handle ribbons
+            rib = ribbons[mod1(i,mr)]
+            di[:ribbon] = isa(rib, Function) ? map(rib, di[:x]) : rib
+
            push!(series_list, RecipeData(di, ()))
        end
    end
@@ -160,18 +175,19 @@ immutable SliceIt end
 end

 # this is the default "type recipe"... just pass the object through
-@recipe f{T<:Any}(::Type{T}, v::T) = v
+@recipe f(::Type{T}, v::T) where {T<:Any} = v

 # this should catch unhandled "series recipes" and error with a nice message
-@recipe f{V<:Val}(::Type{V}, x, y, z) = error("The backend must not support the series type $V, and there isn't a series recipe defined.")
+@recipe f(::Type{V}, x, y, z) where {V<:Val} = error("The backend must not support the series type $V, and there isn't a series recipe defined.")

-_apply_type_recipe(d, v) = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(d, typeof(v), v)[1].args[1]
+_apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v) = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(plotattributes, typeof(v), v)[1].args[1]

 # Handle type recipes when the recipe is defined on the elements.
 # This sort of recipe should return a pair of functions... one to convert to number,
 # and one to format tick values.
-function _apply_type_recipe(d, v::AbstractArray)
-    args = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(d, typeof(v[1]), v[1])[1].args
+function _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v::AbstractArray)
+    isempty(v) && return Float64[]
+    args = RecipesBase.apply_recipe(plotattributes, typeof(v[1]), v[1])[1].args
    if length(args) == 2 && typeof(args[1]) <: Function && typeof(args[2]) <: Function
        numfunc, formatter = args
        Formatted(map(numfunc, v), formatter)
@@ -181,13 +197,13 @@ function _apply_type_recipe(d, v::AbstractArray)
 end

 # # special handling for Surface... need to properly unwrap and re-wrap
-# function _apply_type_recipe(d, v::Surface)
+# function _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v::Surface)
 #     T = eltype(v.surf)
 #     @show T
 #     if T <: Integer || T <: AbstractFloat
 #         v
 #     else
-#         ret = _apply_type_recipe(d, v.surf)
+#         ret = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v.surf)
 #         if typeof(ret) <: Formatted
 #             Formatted(Surface(ret.data), ret.formatter)
 #         else
@@ -197,16 +213,16 @@ end
 # end

 # don't do anything for ints or floats
-_apply_type_recipe{T<:Union{Integer,AbstractFloat}}(d, v::AbstractArray{T}) = v
+_apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v::AbstractArray{T}) where {T<:Union{Integer,AbstractFloat}} = v

 # handle "type recipes" by converting inputs, and then either re-calling or slicing
@recipe function f(x, y, z)
    did_replace = false
-    newx = _apply_type_recipe(d, x)
+    newx = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, x)
    x === newx || (did_replace = true)
-    newy = _apply_type_recipe(d, y)
+    newy = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, y)
    y === newy || (did_replace = true)
-    newz = _apply_type_recipe(d, z)
+    newz = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, z)
    z === newz || (did_replace = true)
    if did_replace
        newx, newy, newz
@@ -216,9 +232,9 @@ _apply_type_recipe{T<:Union{Integer,AbstractFloat}}(d, v::AbstractArray{T}) = v
 end
@recipe function f(x, y)
    did_replace = false
-    newx = _apply_type_recipe(d, x)
+    newx = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, x)
    x === newx || (did_replace = true)
-    newy = _apply_type_recipe(d, y)
+    newy = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, y)
    y === newy || (did_replace = true)
    if did_replace
        newx, newy
@@ -227,7 +243,7 @@ end
    end
 end
@recipe function f(y)
-    newy = _apply_type_recipe(d, y)
+    newy = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, y)
    if y !== newy
        newy
    else
@@ -240,7 +256,7 @@ end
@recipe function f(v1, v2, v3, v4, vrest...)
    did_replace = false
    newargs = map(v -> begin
-        newv = _apply_type_recipe(d, v)
+        newv = _apply_type_recipe(plotattributes, v)
        if newv !== v
            did_replace = true
        end
@@ -258,22 +274,22 @@ end
 # # --------------------------------------------------------------------

 # helper function to ensure relevant attributes are wrapped by Surface
-function wrap_surfaces(d::KW)
-    if haskey(d, :fill_z)
-        v = d[:fill_z]
+function wrap_surfaces(plotattributes::KW)
+    if haskey(plotattributes, :fill_z)
+        v = plotattributes[:fill_z]
        if !isa(v, Surface)
-            d[:fill_z] = Surface(v)
+            plotattributes[:fill_z] = Surface(v)
        end
    end
 end

-@recipe f(n::Integer) = is3d(get(d,:seriestype,:path)) ? (SliceIt, n, n, n) : (SliceIt, n, n, nothing)
+@recipe f(n::Integer) = is3d(get(plotattributes,:seriestype,:path)) ? (SliceIt, n, n, n) : (SliceIt, n, n, nothing)

 # return a surface if this is a 3d plot, otherwise let it be sliced up
-@recipe function f{T<:Union{Integer,AbstractFloat}}(mat::AMat{T})
-    if all3D(d)
+@recipe function f(mat::AMat{T}) where T<:Union{Integer,AbstractFloat}
+    if all3D(plotattributes)
        n,m = size(mat)
-        wrap_surfaces(d)
+        wrap_surfaces(plotattributes)
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Surface(mat)
    else
        SliceIt, nothing, mat, nothing
@@ -281,11 +297,11 @@ end
 end

 # if a matrix is wrapped by Formatted, do similar logic, but wrap data with Surface
-@recipe function f{T<:AbstractMatrix}(fmt::Formatted{T})
-    if all3D(d)
+@recipe function f(fmt::Formatted{T}) where T<:AbstractMatrix
+    if all3D(plotattributes)
        mat = fmt.data
        n,m = size(mat)
-        wrap_surfaces(d)
+        wrap_surfaces(plotattributes)
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Formatted(Surface(mat), fmt.formatter)
    else
        SliceIt, nothing, fmt, nothing
@@ -293,7 +309,7 @@ end
 end

 # assume this is a Volume, so construct one
-@recipe function f{T<:Number}(vol::AbstractArray{T,3}, args...)
+@recipe function f(vol::AbstractArray{T,3}, args...) where T<:Number
    seriestype := :volume
    SliceIt, nothing, Volume(vol, args...), nothing
 end
@@ -301,14 +317,16 @@ end

 # # images - grays

-@recipe function f{T<:Gray}(mat::AMat{T})
+@recipe function f(mat::AMat{T}) where T<:Gray
+    n, m = size(mat)
    if is_seriestype_supported(:image)
        seriestype := :image
-        n, m = size(mat)
+        yflip --> true
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Surface(mat)
    else
        seriestype := :heatmap
        yflip --> true
+        cbar --> false
        fillcolor --> ColorGradient([:black, :white])
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Surface(convert(Matrix{Float64}, mat))
    end
@@ -316,15 +334,18 @@ end

 # # images - colors

-@recipe function f{T<:Colorant}(mat::AMat{T})
+@recipe function f(mat::AMat{T}) where T<:Colorant
+	n, m = size(mat)
+
    if is_seriestype_supported(:image)
        seriestype := :image
-        n, m = size(mat)
+        yflip --> true
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Surface(mat)
    else
        seriestype := :heatmap
        yflip --> true
-        z, d[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(mat)
+        cbar --> false
+        z, plotattributes[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(mat)
        SliceIt, 1:m, 1:n, Surface(z)
    end
 end
@@ -353,16 +374,36 @@ end

 # function without range... use the current range of the x-axis

-@recipe function f{F<:Function}(f::FuncOrFuncs{F})
-    plt = d[:plot_object]
+@recipe function f(f::FuncOrFuncs{F}) where F<:Function
+    plt = plotattributes[:plot_object]
    xmin, xmax = try
        axis_limits(plt[1][:xaxis])
    catch
-        -5, 5
+        xm = tryrange(f, [-5,-1,0,0.01])
+        xm, tryrange(f, filter(x->x>xm, [5,1,0.99, 0, -0.01]))
    end
+
    f, xmin, xmax
 end

+# try some intervals over which the function may be defined
+function tryrange(F::AbstractArray, vec)
+    rets = [tryrange(f, vec) for f in F] # get the preferred for each
+    maxind = maximum(indexin(rets, vec)) # get the last attempt that succeeded (most likely to fit all)
+    rets .= [tryrange(f, vec[maxind:maxind]) for f in F] # ensure that all functions compute there
+    rets[1]
+end
+
+function tryrange(F, vec)
+    for v in vec
+        try
+            tmp = F(v)
+            return v
+        catch
+        end
+    end
+    error("$F is not a Function, or is not defined at any of the values $vec")
+end
 #
 # # --------------------------------------------------------------------
 # # 2 arguments
@@ -372,7 +413,7 @@ end
 # # if functions come first, just swap the order (not to be confused with parametric functions...
 # # as there would be more than one function passed in)

-@recipe function f{F<:Function}(f::FuncOrFuncs{F}, x)
+@recipe function f(f::FuncOrFuncs{F}, x) where F<:Function
    F2 = typeof(x)
    @assert !(F2 <: Function || (F2 <: AbstractArray && F2.parameters[1] <: Function))  # otherwise we'd hit infinite recursion here
    x, f
@@ -387,23 +428,23 @@ end
 # # 3d line or scatter

@recipe function f(x::AVec, y::AVec, z::AVec)
-    # st = get(d, :seriestype, :none)
+    # st = get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none)
    # if st == :scatter
-    #     d[:seriestype] = :scatter3d
+    #     plotattributes[:seriestype] = :scatter3d
    # elseif !is3d(st)
-    #     d[:seriestype] = :path3d
+    #     plotattributes[:seriestype] = :path3d
    # end
    SliceIt, x, y, z
 end

@recipe function f(x::AMat, y::AMat, z::AMat)
-    # st = get(d, :seriestype, :none)
+    # st = get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none)
    # if size(x) == size(y) == size(z)
    #     if !is3d(st)
    #         seriestype := :path3d
    #     end
    # end
-    wrap_surfaces(d)
+    wrap_surfaces(plotattributes)
    SliceIt, x, y, z
 end

@@ -413,7 +454,7 @@ end
@recipe function f(x::AVec, y::AVec, zf::Function)
    # x = X <: Number ? sort(x) : x
    # y = Y <: Number ? sort(y) : y
-    wrap_surfaces(d)
+    wrap_surfaces(plotattributes)
    SliceIt, x, y, Surface(zf, x, y)  # TODO: replace with SurfaceFunction when supported
 end

@@ -421,13 +462,45 @@ end
 # # surface-like... matrix grid

@recipe function f(x::AVec, y::AVec, z::AMat)
-    if !like_surface(get(d, :seriestype, :none))
-        d[:seriestype] = :contour
+    if !like_surface(get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none))
+        plotattributes[:seriestype] = :contour
    end
-    wrap_surfaces(d)
+    wrap_surfaces(plotattributes)
    SliceIt, x, y, Surface(z)
 end

+# # images - grays
+
+@recipe function f(x::AVec, y::AVec, mat::AMat{T}) where T<:Gray
+    if is_seriestype_supported(:image)
+        seriestype := :image
+        yflip --> true
+        SliceIt, x, y, Surface(mat)
+    else
+        seriestype := :heatmap
+        yflip --> true
+        cbar --> false
+        fillcolor --> ColorGradient([:black, :white])
+        SliceIt, x, y, Surface(convert(Matrix{Float64}, mat))
+    end
+end
+
+# # images - colors
+
+@recipe function f(x::AVec, y::AVec, mat::AMat{T}) where T<:Colorant
+    if is_seriestype_supported(:image)
+        seriestype := :image
+        yflip --> true
+        SliceIt, x, y, Surface(mat)
+    else
+        seriestype := :heatmap
+        yflip --> true
+        cbar --> false
+        z, plotattributes[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(mat)
+        SliceIt, x, y, Surface(z)
+    end
+end
+
 #
 #
 # # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -440,20 +513,20 @@ end
    xs = adapted_grid(f, (xmin, xmax))
    xs, f
 end
-@recipe function f{F<:Function}(fs::AbstractArray{F}, xmin::Number, xmax::Number)
+@recipe function f(fs::AbstractArray{F}, xmin::Number, xmax::Number) where F<:Function
    xs = Any[adapted_grid(f, (xmin, xmax)) for f in fs]
    xs, fs
 end
-@recipe f{F<:Function,G<:Function}(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, u::AVec)  = mapFuncOrFuncs(fx, u), mapFuncOrFuncs(fy, u)
-@recipe f{F<:Function,G<:Function}(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, umin::Number, umax::Number, n = 200) = fx, fy, linspace(umin, umax, n)
+@recipe f(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, u::AVec) where {F<:Function,G<:Function}  = mapFuncOrFuncs(fx, u), mapFuncOrFuncs(fy, u)
+@recipe f(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, umin::Number, umax::Number, n = 200) where {F<:Function,G<:Function} = fx, fy, range(umin, stop = umax, length = n)

 #
 # # special handling... 3D parametric function(s)
-@recipe function f{F<:Function,G<:Function,H<:Function}(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, fz::FuncOrFuncs{H}, u::AVec)
+@recipe function f(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, fz::FuncOrFuncs{H}, u::AVec) where {F<:Function,G<:Function,H<:Function}
    mapFuncOrFuncs(fx, u), mapFuncOrFuncs(fy, u), mapFuncOrFuncs(fz, u)
 end
-@recipe function f{F<:Function,G<:Function,H<:Function}(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, fz::FuncOrFuncs{H}, umin::Number, umax::Number, numPoints = 200)
-    fx, fy, fz, linspace(umin, umax, numPoints)
+@recipe function f(fx::FuncOrFuncs{F}, fy::FuncOrFuncs{G}, fz::FuncOrFuncs{H}, umin::Number, umax::Number, numPoints = 200) where {F<:Function,G<:Function,H<:Function}
+    fx, fy, fz, range(umin, stop = umax, length = numPoints)
 end

 #
@@ -467,28 +540,28 @@ end

 #
 # # (x,y) tuples
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number}(xy::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2}}) = unzip(xy)
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number}(xy::Tuple{R1,R2})       = [xy[1]], [xy[2]]
+@recipe f(xy::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2}}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number} = unzip(xy)
+@recipe f(xy::Tuple{R1,R2}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number}       = [xy[1]], [xy[2]]

 #
 # # (x,y,z) tuples
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number}(xyz::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2,R3}}) = unzip(xyz)
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number}(xyz::Tuple{R1,R2,R3})       = [xyz[1]], [xyz[2]], [xyz[3]]
+@recipe f(xyz::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2,R3}}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number} = unzip(xyz)
+@recipe f(xyz::Tuple{R1,R2,R3}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number}       = [xyz[1]], [xyz[2]], [xyz[3]]

 # these might be points+velocity, or OHLC or something else
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number,R4<:Number}(xyuv::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2,R3,R4}}) = get(d,:seriestype,:path)==:ohlc ? OHLC[OHLC(t...) for t in xyuv] : unzip(xyuv)
-@recipe f{R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number,R4<:Number}(xyuv::Tuple{R1,R2,R3,R4})       = [xyuv[1]], [xyuv[2]], [xyuv[3]], [xyuv[4]]
+@recipe f(xyuv::AVec{Tuple{R1,R2,R3,R4}}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number,R4<:Number} = get(plotattributes,:seriestype,:path)==:ohlc ? OHLC[OHLC(t...) for t in xyuv] : unzip(xyuv)
+@recipe f(xyuv::Tuple{R1,R2,R3,R4}) where {R1<:Number,R2<:Number,R3<:Number,R4<:Number}       = [xyuv[1]], [xyuv[2]], [xyuv[3]], [xyuv[4]]


 #
 # # 2D FixedSizeArrays
-@recipe f{T<:Number}(xy::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}}) = unzip(xy)
-@recipe f{T<:Number}(xy::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T})       = [xy[1]], [xy[2]]
+@recipe f(xy::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}}) where {T<:Number} = unzip(xy)
+@recipe f(xy::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}) where {T<:Number}       = [xy[1]], [xy[2]]

 #
 # # 3D FixedSizeArrays
-@recipe f{T<:Number}(xyz::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}}) = unzip(xyz)
-@recipe f{T<:Number}(xyz::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T})       = [xyz[1]], [xyz[2]], [xyz[3]]
+@recipe f(xyz::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}}) where {T<:Number} = unzip(xyz)
+@recipe f(xyz::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}) where {T<:Number}       = [xyz[1]], [xyz[2]], [xyz[3]]

 #
 # # --------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -500,7 +573,7 @@ end
 #         # create a new series, with the label of the group, and an idxfilter (to be applied in slice_and_dice)
 #         # TODO: use @series instead
 #         @show i, glab, groupby.groupIds[i]
-#         di = copy(d)
+#         di = copy(plotattributes)
 #         get!(di, :label, string(glab))
 #         get!(di, :idxfilter, groupby.groupIds[i])
 #         push!(series_list, RecipeData(di, args))
@@ -508,13 +581,69 @@ end
 #     nothing
 # end

+splittable_kw(key, val, lengthGroup) = false
+splittable_kw(key, val::AbstractArray, lengthGroup) = (key != :group) && size(val,1) == lengthGroup
+splittable_kw(key, val::Tuple, lengthGroup) = all(splittable_kw.(key, val, lengthGroup))
+splittable_kw(key, val::SeriesAnnotations, lengthGroup) = splittable_kw(key, val.strs, lengthGroup)
+
+split_kw(key, val::AbstractArray, indices) = val[indices, fill(Colon(), ndims(val)-1)...]
+split_kw(key, val::Tuple, indices) = Tuple(split_kw(key, v, indices) for v in val)
+function split_kw(key, val::SeriesAnnotations, indices)
+    split_strs = split_kw(key, val.strs, indices)
+    return SeriesAnnotations(split_strs, val.font, val.baseshape, val.scalefactor)
+end
+
+function groupedvec2mat(x_ind, x, y::AbstractArray, groupby, def_val = y[1])
+    y_mat = Array{promote_type(eltype(y), typeof(def_val))}(undef, length(keys(x_ind)), length(groupby.groupLabels))
+    fill!(y_mat, def_val)
+    for i in 1:length(groupby.groupLabels)
+        xi = x[groupby.groupIds[i]]
+        yi = y[groupby.groupIds[i]]
+        y_mat[getindex.(Ref(x_ind), xi), i] = yi
+    end
+    return y_mat
+end
+
+groupedvec2mat(x_ind, x, y::Tuple, groupby) = Tuple(groupedvec2mat(x_ind, x, v, groupby) for v in y)
+
+group_as_matrix(t) = false
+
 # split the group into 1 series per group, and set the label and idxfilter for each
@recipe function f(groupby::GroupBy, args...)
-    for (i,glab) in enumerate(groupby.groupLabels)
-        @series begin
-            label     --> string(glab)
-            idxfilter --> groupby.groupIds[i]
-            args
+    lengthGroup = maximum(union(groupby.groupIds...))
+    if !(group_as_matrix(args[1]))
+        for (i,glab) in enumerate(groupby.groupLabels)
+            @series begin
+                label     --> string(glab)
+                idxfilter --> groupby.groupIds[i]
+                for (key,val) in plotattributes
+                    if splittable_kw(key, val, lengthGroup)
+                        :($key) := split_kw(key, val, groupby.groupIds[i])
+                    end
+                end
+                args
+            end
        end
+    else
+        g = args[1]
+        if length(g.args) == 1
+            x = zeros(Int, lengthGroup)
+            for indexes in groupby.groupIds
+                x[indexes] = 1:length(indexes)
+            end
+            last_args = g.args
+        else
+            x = g.args[1]
+            last_args = g.args[2:end]
+        end
+        x_u = unique(sort(x))
+        x_ind = Dict(zip(x_u, 1:length(x_u)))
+        for (key,val) in plotattributes
+            if splittable_kw(key, val, lengthGroup)
+                :($key) := groupedvec2mat(x_ind, x, val, groupby)
+            end
+        end
+        label --> reshape(groupby.groupLabels, 1, :)
+        typeof(g)((x_u, (groupedvec2mat(x_ind, x, arg, groupby, NaN) for arg in last_args)...))
    end
 end
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@


-function Subplot{T<:AbstractBackend}(::T; parent = RootLayout())
+function Subplot(::T; parent = RootLayout()) where T<:AbstractBackend
    Subplot{T}(
        parent,
        Series[],
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ function Subplot{T<:AbstractBackend}(::T; parent = RootLayout())
    )
 end

+"""
+    plotarea(subplot)
+
+Return the bounding box of a subplot
+"""
 plotarea(sp::Subplot) = sp.plotarea
 plotarea!(sp::Subplot, bbox::BoundingBox) = (sp.plotarea = bbox)

@@ -29,17 +34,17 @@ bottompad(sp::Subplot) = sp.minpad[4]
 get_subplot(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot) = sp
 get_subplot(plt::Plot, i::Integer) = plt.subplots[i]
 get_subplot(plt::Plot, k) = plt.spmap[k]
-get_subplot(series::Series) = series.d[:subplot]
+get_subplot(series::Series) = series.plotattributes[:subplot]

 get_subplot_index(plt::Plot, idx::Integer) = Int(idx)
-get_subplot_index(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot) = findfirst(_ -> _ === sp, plt.subplots)
+get_subplot_index(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot) = findfirst(x -> x === sp, plt.subplots)

-series_list(sp::Subplot) = sp.series_list # filter(series -> series.d[:subplot] === sp, sp.plt.series_list)
+series_list(sp::Subplot) = sp.series_list # filter(series -> series.plotattributes[:subplot] === sp, sp.plt.series_list)

 function should_add_to_legend(series::Series)
-    series.d[:primary] && series.d[:label] != "" &&
-        !(series.d[:seriestype] in (
-            :hexbin,:histogram2d,:hline,:vline,
+    series.plotattributes[:primary] && series.plotattributes[:label] != "" &&
+        !(series.plotattributes[:seriestype] in (
+            :hexbin,:bins2d,:histogram2d,:hline,:vline,
            :contour,:contourf,:contour3d,:surface,:wireframe,
            :heatmap, :pie, :image
        ))
@@ -1,40 +1,168 @@
+"""
+    theme(s::Symbol)

+Specify the colour theme for plots.
+"""
 function theme(s::Symbol; kw...)
-    # reset?
-    if s == :none || s == :default
-        PlotUtils._default_gradient[] = :inferno
-        default(;
-            bg        = :white,
-            bglegend  = :match,
-            bginside  = :match,
-            bgoutside = :match,
-            fg        = :auto,
-            fglegend  = :match,
-            fggrid    = :match,
-            fgaxis    = :match,
-            fgtext    = :match,
-            fgborder  = :match,
-            fgguide   = :match,
-            palette   = :auto
+    defaults = _get_defaults(s)
+    _theme(s, defaults; kw...)
+end
+
+function _get_defaults(s::Symbol)
+    thm = PlotThemes._themes[s]
+    if :defaults in fieldnames(typeof(thm))
+        return thm.defaults
+    else # old PlotTheme type
+        defaults = KW(
+            :bg       => thm.bg_secondary,
+            :bginside => thm.bg_primary,
+            :fg       => thm.lines,
+            :fgtext   => thm.text,
+            :fgguide  => thm.text,
+            :fglegend => thm.text,
+            :palette  => thm.palette,
        )
-        return
+        if thm.gradient != nothing
+            push!(defaults, :gradient => thm.gradient)
+        end
+        return defaults
+    end
+end
+
+function _theme(s::Symbol, defaults::KW; kw...)
+    # Reset to defaults to overwrite active theme
+    reset_defaults()
+
+    # Set the theme's gradient as default
+    if haskey(defaults, :gradient)
+        PlotUtils.clibrary(:misc)
+        PlotUtils.default_cgrad(default = :sequential, sequential = PlotThemes.gradient_name(s))
+    else
+        PlotUtils.clibrary(:Plots)
+        PlotUtils.default_cgrad(default = :sequential, sequential = :inferno)
    end

-    # update the default gradient and other defaults
-    thm = PlotThemes._themes[s]
-    if thm.gradient != nothing
-        PlotUtils._default_gradient[] = PlotThemes.gradient_name(s)
+    # maybe overwrite the theme's gradient
+    kw = KW(kw)
+    if haskey(kw, :gradient)
+        kwgrad = pop!(kw, :gradient)
+        for clib in clibraries()
+            if kwgrad in cgradients(clib)
+                PlotUtils.clibrary(clib)
+                PlotUtils.default_cgrad(default = :sequential, sequential = kwgrad)
+                break
+            end
+        end
    end
-    default(;
-        bg       = thm.bg_secondary,
-        bginside = thm.bg_primary,
-        fg       = thm.lines,
-        fgtext   = thm.text,
-        fgguide  = thm.text,
-        fglegend = thm.text,
-        palette  = thm.palette,
-        kw...
-    )
+
+    # Set the theme's defaults
+    default(; defaults..., kw...)
+    return
 end

@deprecate set_theme(s) theme(s)
+
+@userplot ShowTheme
+
+_color_functions = KW(
+    :protanopic => protanopic,
+    :deuteranopic => deuteranopic,
+    :tritanopic => tritanopic,
+)
+_get_showtheme_args(thm::Symbol) = thm, identity
+_get_showtheme_args(thm::Symbol, func::Symbol) = thm, get(_color_functions, func, identity)
+
+@recipe function showtheme(st::ShowTheme)
+    thm, cfunc = _get_showtheme_args(st.args...)
+    defaults = _get_defaults(thm)
+
+    # get the gradient
+    gradient_colors = get(defaults, :gradient, cgrad(:inferno).colors)
+    gradient = cgrad(cfunc.(RGB.(gradient_colors)))
+
+    # get the palette
+    palette = get(defaults, :palette, get_color_palette(:auto, plot_color(:white), 17))
+    palette = cfunc.(RGB.(palette))
+
+    # apply the theme
+    for k in keys(defaults)
+        k in (:gradient, :palette) && continue
+        def = defaults[k]
+        arg = get(_keyAliases, k, k)
+        plotattributes[arg] = if typeof(def) <: Colorant
+            cfunc(RGB(def))
+        elseif eltype(def) <: Colorant
+            cfunc.(RGB.(def))
+        elseif occursin("color", string(arg))
+            cfunc.(RGB.(plot_color.(def)))
+        else
+            def
+        end
+    end
+
+    srand(1)
+
+    label := ""
+    colorbar := false
+    layout := (2, 3)
+
+    for j in 1:4
+        @series begin
+            subplot := 1
+            palette := palette
+            seriestype := :path
+            cumsum(randn(50))
+        end
+
+        @series begin
+            subplot := 2
+            seriestype := :scatter
+            palette := palette
+            marker := (:circle, :diamond, :star5, :square)[j]
+            randn(10), randn(10)
+        end
+    end
+
+    @series begin
+        subplot := 3
+        seriestype := :histogram
+        palette := palette
+        randn(1000) .+ (0:2:4)'
+    end
+
+    f(r) = sin(r) / r
+    _norm(x, y) = norm([x, y])
+    x = y = range(-3π, stop = 3π, length = 30)
+    z = f.(_norm.(x, y'))
+    wi = 2:3:30
+
+    @series begin
+        subplot := 4
+        seriestype := :heatmap
+        seriescolor := gradient
+        ticks := -5:5:5
+        x, y, z
+    end
+
+    @series begin
+        subplot := 5
+        seriestype := :surface
+        seriescolor := gradient
+        x, y, z
+    end
+
+    n = 100
+    ts = range(0, stop = 10π, length = n)
+    x = ts .* cos.(ts)
+    y = (0.1ts) .* sin.(ts)
+    z = 1:n
+
+    @series begin
+        subplot := 6
+        seriescolor := gradient
+        linewidth := 3
+        line_z := z
+        x, y, z
+    end
+
+end
@@ -2,38 +2,35 @@
 # TODO: I declare lots of types here because of the lacking ability to do forward declarations in current Julia
 # I should move these to the relevant files when something like "extern" is implemented

-typealias AVec AbstractVector
-typealias AMat AbstractMatrix
-typealias KW Dict{Symbol,Any}
+const AVec = AbstractVector
+const AMat = AbstractMatrix
+const KW = Dict{Symbol,Any}
+const TicksArgs = Union{AVec{T}, Tuple{AVec{T}, AVec{S}}, Symbol} where {T<:Real, S<:AbstractString}

-immutable PlotsDisplay <: Display end
-
-abstract AbstractBackend
-abstract AbstractPlot{T<:AbstractBackend}
-abstract AbstractLayout
+struct PlotsDisplay <: AbstractDisplay end

 # -----------------------------------------------------------

-immutable InputWrapper{T}
+struct InputWrapper{T}
    obj::T
 end
-wrap{T}(obj::T) = InputWrapper{T}(obj)
+wrap(obj::T) where {T} = InputWrapper{T}(obj)
 Base.isempty(wrapper::InputWrapper) = false


 # -----------------------------------------------------------

-type Series
-    d::KW
+mutable struct Series
+    plotattributes::KW
 end

-attr(series::Series, k::Symbol) = series.d[k]
-attr!(series::Series, v, k::Symbol) = (series.d[k] = v)
+attr(series::Series, k::Symbol) = series.plotattributes[k]
+attr!(series::Series, v, k::Symbol) = (series.plotattributes[k] = v)

 # -----------------------------------------------------------

 # a single subplot
-type Subplot{T<:AbstractBackend} <: AbstractLayout
+mutable struct Subplot{T<:AbstractBackend} <: AbstractLayout
    parent::AbstractLayout
    series_list::Vector{Series}  # arguments for each series
    minpad::Tuple # leftpad, toppad, rightpad, bottompad
@@ -49,12 +46,12 @@ Base.show(io::IO, sp::Subplot) = print(io, "Subplot{$(sp[:subplot_index])}")
 # -----------------------------------------------------------

 # simple wrapper around a KW so we can hold all attributes pertaining to the axis in one place
-type Axis
+mutable struct Axis
    sps::Vector{Subplot}
-    d::KW
+    plotattributes::KW
 end

-type Extrema
+mutable struct Extrema
    emin::Float64
    emax::Float64
 end
@@ -62,12 +59,12 @@ Extrema() = Extrema(Inf, -Inf)

 # -----------------------------------------------------------

-typealias SubplotMap Dict{Any, Subplot}
+const SubplotMap = Dict{Any, Subplot}

 # -----------------------------------------------------------


-type Plot{T<:AbstractBackend} <: AbstractPlot{T}
+mutable struct Plot{T<:AbstractBackend} <: AbstractPlot{T}
    backend::T                   # the backend type
    n::Int                       # number of series
    attr::KW                     # arguments for the whole plot
@@ -91,7 +88,7 @@ end

 Base.getindex(plt::Plot, i::Integer) = plt.subplots[i]
 Base.length(plt::Plot) = length(plt.subplots)
-Base.endof(plt::Plot) = length(plt)
+Base.lastindex(plt::Plot) = length(plt)

 Base.getindex(plt::Plot, r::Integer, c::Integer) = plt.layout[r,c]
 Base.size(plt::Plot) = size(plt.layout)
@@ -102,6 +99,6 @@ Base.ndims(plt::Plot) = 2
 # attr!(plt::Plot, v, k::Symbol) = (plt.attr[k] = v)

 Base.getindex(sp::Subplot, i::Integer) = series_list(sp)[i]
-Base.endof(sp::Subplot) = length(series_list(sp))
+Base.lastindex(sp::Subplot) = length(series_list(sp))

 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ calcMidpoints(edges::AbstractVector) = Float64[0.5 * (edges[i] + edges[i+1]) for

 "Make histogram-like bins of data"
 function binData(data, nbins)
-  lo, hi = extrema(data)
-  edges = collect(linspace(lo, hi, nbins+1))
+  lo, hi = ignorenan_extrema(data)
+  edges = collect(range(lo, stop=hi, length=nbins+1))
  midpoints = calcMidpoints(edges)
  buckets = Int[max(2, min(searchsortedfirst(edges, x), length(edges)))-1 for x in data]
  counts = zeros(Int, length(midpoints))
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ A hacky replacement for a histogram when the backend doesn't support histograms
 Convert it into a bar chart with the appropriate x/y values.
 """
 function histogramHack(; kw...)
-  d = KW(kw)
+  plotattributes = KW(kw)

  # we assume that the y kwarg is set with the data to be binned, and nbins is also defined
-  edges, midpoints, buckets, counts = binData(d[:y], d[:bins])
-  d[:x] = midpoints
-  d[:y] = float(counts)
-  d[:seriestype] = :bar
-  d[:fillrange] = d[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : d[:fillrange]
-  d
+  edges, midpoints, buckets, counts = binData(plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:bins])
+  plotattributes[:x] = midpoints
+  plotattributes[:y] = float(counts)
+  plotattributes[:seriestype] = :bar
+  plotattributes[:fillrange] = plotattributes[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributes[:fillrange]
+  plotattributes
 end

 """
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ A hacky replacement for a bar graph when the backend doesn't support bars direct
 Convert it into a line chart with fillrange set.
 """
 function barHack(; kw...)
-  d = KW(kw)
-  midpoints = d[:x]
-  heights = d[:y]
-  fillrange = d[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : d[:fillrange]
+  plotattributes = KW(kw)
+  midpoints = plotattributes[:x]
+  heights = plotattributes[:y]
+  fillrange = plotattributes[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributes[:fillrange]

  # estimate the edges
  dists = diff(midpoints) * 0.5
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ function barHack(; kw...)
    append!(y, [fillrange, heights[i], heights[i], fillrange])
  end

-  d[:x] = x
-  d[:y] = y
-  d[:seriestype] = :path
-  d[:fillrange] = fillrange
-  d
+  plotattributes[:x] = x
+  plotattributes[:y] = y
+  plotattributes[:seriestype] = :path
+  plotattributes[:fillrange] = fillrange
+  plotattributes
 end


@@ -75,33 +75,33 @@ A hacky replacement for a sticks graph when the backend doesn't support sticks d
 Convert it into a line chart that traces the sticks, and a scatter that sets markers at the points.
 """
 function sticksHack(; kw...)
-  dLine = KW(kw)
-  dScatter = copy(dLine)
+  plotattributesLine = KW(kw)
+  plotattributesScatter = copy(plotattributesLine)

  # these are the line vertices
  x = Float64[]
  y = Float64[]
-  fillrange = dLine[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : dLine[:fillrange]
+  fillrange = plotattributesLine[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributesLine[:fillrange]

  # calculate the vertices
-  yScatter = dScatter[:y]
-  for (i,xi) in enumerate(dScatter[:x])
+  yScatter = plotattributesScatter[:y]
+  for (i,xi) in enumerate(plotattributesScatter[:x])
    yi = yScatter[i]
    for j in 1:3 push!(x, xi) end
    append!(y, [fillrange, yScatter[i], fillrange])
  end

  # change the line args
-  dLine[:x] = x
-  dLine[:y] = y
-  dLine[:seriestype] = :path
-  dLine[:markershape] = :none
-  dLine[:fillrange] = nothing
+  plotattributesLine[:x] = x
+  plotattributesLine[:y] = y
+  plotattributesLine[:seriestype] = :path
+  plotattributesLine[:markershape] = :none
+  plotattributesLine[:fillrange] = nothing

  # change the scatter args
-  dScatter[:seriestype] = :none
+  plotattributesScatter[:seriestype] = :none

-  dLine, dScatter
+  plotattributesLine, plotattributesScatter
 end

 function regressionXY(x, y)
@@ -109,17 +109,17 @@ function regressionXY(x, y)
  β, α = convert(Matrix{Float64}, [x ones(length(x))]) \ convert(Vector{Float64}, y)

  # make a line segment
-  regx = [minimum(x), maximum(x)]
+  regx = [ignorenan_minimum(x), ignorenan_maximum(x)]
  regy = β * regx + α
  regx, regy
 end

-function replace_image_with_heatmap{T<:Colorant}(z::Array{T})
+function replace_image_with_heatmap(z::Array{T}) where T<:Colorant
    @show T, size(z)
    n, m = size(z)
    # idx = 0
    colors = ColorGradient(vec(z))
-    newz = reshape(linspace(0, 1, n*m), n, m)
+    newz = reshape(range(0, stop=1, length=n*m), n, m)
    newz, colors
    # newz = zeros(n, m)
    # for i=1:n, j=1:m
@@ -130,22 +130,22 @@ function replace_image_with_heatmap{T<:Colorant}(z::Array{T})
    # newz, ColorGradient(colors)
 end

-function imageHack(d::KW)
+function imageHack(plotattributes::KW)
    is_seriestype_supported(:heatmap) || error("Neither :image or :heatmap are supported!")
-    d[:seriestype] = :heatmap
-    d[:z], d[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(d[:z].surf)
+    plotattributes[:seriestype] = :heatmap
+    plotattributes[:z], plotattributes[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(plotattributes[:z].surf)
 end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------

-
-type Segments{T}
+"Build line segments for plotting"
+mutable struct Segments{T}
    pts::Vector{T}
 end

 # Segments() = Segments{Float64}(zeros(0))

 Segments() = Segments(Float64)
-Segments{T}(::Type{T}) = Segments(T[])
+Segments(::Type{T}) where {T} = Segments(T[])
 Segments(p::Int) = Segments(NTuple{2,Float64}[])


@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ to_nan(::Type{NTuple{2,Float64}}) = (NaN, NaN)
 coords(segs::Segments{Float64}) = segs.pts
 coords(segs::Segments{NTuple{2,Float64}}) = Float64[p[1] for p in segs.pts], Float64[p[2] for p in segs.pts]

-function Base.push!{T}(segments::Segments{T}, vs...)
+function Base.push!(segments::Segments{T}, vs...) where T
    if !isempty(segments.pts)
        push!(segments.pts, to_nan(T))
    end
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ function Base.push!{T}(segments::Segments{T}, vs...)
    segments
 end

-function Base.push!{T}(segments::Segments{T}, vs::AVec)
+function Base.push!(segments::Segments{T}, vs::AVec) where T
    if !isempty(segments.pts)
        push!(segments.pts, to_nan(T))
    end
@@ -181,30 +181,46 @@ end
 # -----------------------------------------------------
 # helper to manage NaN-separated segments

-type SegmentsIterator
+mutable struct SegmentsIterator
    args::Tuple
    n::Int
 end
+
 function iter_segments(args...)
    tup = Plots.wraptuple(args)
    n = maximum(map(length, tup))
    SegmentsIterator(tup, n)
 end

+function iter_segments(series::Series)
+    x, y, z = series[:x], series[:y], series[:z]
+    if has_attribute_segments(series)
+        if series[:seriestype] in (:scatter, :scatter3d)
+            return [[i] for i in 1:length(y)]
+        else
+            return [i:(i + 1) for i in 1:(length(y) - 1)]
+        end
+    else
+        segs = UnitRange{Int}[]
+        args = is3d(series) ? (x, y, z) : (x, y)
+        for seg in iter_segments(args...)
+            push!(segs, seg)
+        end
+        return segs
+    end
+end
+
 # helpers to figure out if there are NaN values in a list of array types
-anynan(i::Int, args::Tuple) = any(a -> !isfinite(cycle(a,i)), args)
+anynan(i::Int, args::Tuple) = any(a -> try isnan(_cycle(a,i)) catch MethodError false end, args)
 anynan(istart::Int, iend::Int, args::Tuple) = any(i -> anynan(i, args), istart:iend)
 allnan(istart::Int, iend::Int, args::Tuple) = all(i -> anynan(i, args), istart:iend)

-function Base.start(itr::SegmentsIterator)
-    nextidx = 1
-    if anynan(1, itr.args)
-        _, nextidx = next(itr, 1)
+function Base.iterate(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int = 1)
+    nextidx > itr.n && return nothing
+    if nextidx == 1 && !any(isempty,itr.args) && anynan(1, itr.args)
+        nextidx = 2
    end
-    nextidx
-end
-Base.done(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int) = nextidx > itr.n
-function Base.next(itr::SegmentsIterator, nextidx::Int)
+
    i = istart = iend = nextidx

    # find the next NaN, and iend is the one before
@@ -231,8 +247,8 @@ end
 # Find minimal type that can contain NaN and x
 # To allow use of NaN separated segments with categorical x axis

-float_extended_type{T}(x::AbstractArray{T}) = Union{T,Float64}
-float_extended_type{T<:Real}(x::AbstractArray{T}) = Float64
+float_extended_type(x::AbstractArray{T}) where {T} = Union{T,Float64}
+float_extended_type(x::AbstractArray{T}) where {T<:Real} = Float64

 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@@ -240,59 +256,60 @@ float_extended_type{T<:Real}(x::AbstractArray{T}) = Float64
 nop() = nothing
 notimpl() = error("This has not been implemented yet")

-isnothing(x::Void) = true
+isnothing(x::Nothing) = true
 isnothing(x) = false

-cycle(wrapper::InputWrapper, idx::Int) = wrapper.obj
-cycle(wrapper::InputWrapper, idx::AVec{Int}) = wrapper.obj
+_cycle(wrapper::InputWrapper, idx::Int) = wrapper.obj
+_cycle(wrapper::InputWrapper, idx::AVec{Int}) = wrapper.obj

-cycle(v::AVec, idx::Int) = v[mod1(idx, length(v))]
-cycle(v::AMat, idx::Int) = size(v,1) == 1 ? v[1, mod1(idx, size(v,2))] : v[:, mod1(idx, size(v,2))]
-cycle(v, idx::Int)       = v
+_cycle(v::AVec, idx::Int) = v[mod1(idx, length(v))]
+_cycle(v::AMat, idx::Int) = size(v,1) == 1 ? v[1, mod1(idx, size(v,2))] : v[:, mod1(idx, size(v,2))]
+_cycle(v, idx::Int)       = v

-cycle(v::AVec, indices::AVec{Int}) = map(i -> cycle(v,i), indices)
-cycle(v::AMat, indices::AVec{Int}) = map(i -> cycle(v,i), indices)
-cycle(v, indices::AVec{Int})       = fill(v, length(indices))
+_cycle(v::AVec, indices::AVec{Int}) = map(i -> _cycle(v,i), indices)
+_cycle(v::AMat, indices::AVec{Int}) = map(i -> _cycle(v,i), indices)
+_cycle(v, indices::AVec{Int})       = fill(v, length(indices))

-cycle(grad::ColorGradient, idx::Int) = cycle(grad.colors, idx)
-cycle(grad::ColorGradient, indices::AVec{Int}) = cycle(grad.colors, indices)
+_cycle(grad::ColorGradient, idx::Int) = _cycle(grad.colors, idx)
+_cycle(grad::ColorGradient, indices::AVec{Int}) = _cycle(grad.colors, indices)

 makevec(v::AVec) = v
-makevec{T}(v::T) = T[v]
+makevec(v::T) where {T} = T[v]

 "duplicate a single value, or pass the 2-tuple through"
 maketuple(x::Real)                     = (x,x)
-maketuple{T,S}(x::Tuple{T,S}) = x
+maketuple(x::Tuple{T,S}) where {T,S} = x

 mapFuncOrFuncs(f::Function, u::AVec)        = map(f, u)
-mapFuncOrFuncs{F<:Function}(fs::AVec{F}, u::AVec) = [map(f, u) for f in fs]
+mapFuncOrFuncs(fs::AVec{F}, u::AVec) where {F<:Function} = [map(f, u) for f in fs]

-unzip{X,Y}(xy::AVec{Tuple{X,Y}})              = [t[1] for t in xy], [t[2] for t in xy]
-unzip{X,Y,Z}(xyz::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,Z}})         = [t[1] for t in xyz], [t[2] for t in xyz], [t[3] for t in xyz]
-unzip{X,Y,U,V}(xyuv::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,U,V}})    = [t[1] for t in xyuv], [t[2] for t in xyuv], [t[3] for t in xyuv], [t[4] for t in xyuv]
+unzip(xy::AVec{Tuple{X,Y}}) where {X,Y}              = [t[1] for t in xy], [t[2] for t in xy]
+unzip(xyz::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,Z}}) where {X,Y,Z}         = [t[1] for t in xyz], [t[2] for t in xyz], [t[3] for t in xyz]
+unzip(xyuv::AVec{Tuple{X,Y,U,V}}) where {X,Y,U,V}    = [t[1] for t in xyuv], [t[2] for t in xyuv], [t[3] for t in xyuv], [t[4] for t in xyuv]

-unzip{T}(xy::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}})  = T[t[1] for t in xy], T[t[2] for t in xy]
-unzip{T}(xy::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T})        = T[xy[1]], T[xy[2]]
+unzip(xy::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}}) where {T}  = T[t[1] for t in xy], T[t[2] for t in xy]
+unzip(xy::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{2,T}) where {T}        = T[xy[1]], T[xy[2]]

-unzip{T}(xyz::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}}) = T[t[1] for t in xyz], T[t[2] for t in xyz], T[t[3] for t in xyz]
-unzip{T}(xyz::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T})       = T[xyz[1]], T[xyz[2]], T[xyz[3]]
+unzip(xyz::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}}) where {T} = T[t[1] for t in xyz], T[t[2] for t in xyz], T[t[3] for t in xyz]
+unzip(xyz::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{3,T}) where {T}       = T[xyz[1]], T[xyz[2]], T[xyz[3]]

-unzip{T}(xyuv::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{4,T}}) = T[t[1] for t in xyuv], T[t[2] for t in xyuv], T[t[3] for t in xyuv], T[t[4] for t in xyuv]
-unzip{T}(xyuv::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{4,T})       = T[xyuv[1]], T[xyuv[2]], T[xyuv[3]], T[xyuv[4]]
+unzip(xyuv::AVec{FixedSizeArrays.Vec{4,T}}) where {T} = T[t[1] for t in xyuv], T[t[2] for t in xyuv], T[t[3] for t in xyuv], T[t[4] for t in xyuv]
+unzip(xyuv::FixedSizeArrays.Vec{4,T}) where {T}       = T[xyuv[1]], T[xyuv[2]], T[xyuv[3]], T[xyuv[4]]

 # given 2-element lims and a vector of data x, widen lims to account for the extrema of x
 function _expand_limits(lims, x)
  try
-    e1, e2 = extrema(x)
-    lims[1] = min(lims[1], e1)
-    lims[2] = max(lims[2], e2)
+    e1, e2 = ignorenan_extrema(x)
+    lims[1] = NaNMath.min(lims[1], e1)
+    lims[2] = NaNMath.max(lims[2], e2)
  # catch err
-  #   warn(err)
+  #   @warn(err)
+  catch
  end
  nothing
 end

-expand_data(v, n::Integer) = [cycle(v, i) for i=1:n]
+expand_data(v, n::Integer) = [_cycle(v, i) for i=1:n]

 # if the type exists in a list, replace the first occurence.  otherwise add it to the end
 function addOrReplace(v::AbstractVector, t::DataType, args...; kw...)
@@ -311,53 +328,76 @@ function replaceType(vec, val)
  push!(vec, val)
 end

-function replaceAlias!(d::KW, k::Symbol, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
+function replaceAlias!(plotattributes::KW, k::Symbol, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
  if haskey(aliases, k)
-    d[aliases[k]] = pop!(d, k)
+    plotattributes[aliases[k]] = pop!(plotattributes, k)
  end
 end

-function replaceAliases!(d::KW, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
-  ks = collect(keys(d))
+function replaceAliases!(plotattributes::KW, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
+  ks = collect(keys(plotattributes))
  for k in ks
-      replaceAlias!(d, k, aliases)
+      replaceAlias!(plotattributes, k, aliases)
  end
 end

-createSegments(z) = collect(repmat(z',2,1))[2:end]
+createSegments(z) = collect(repeat(reshape(z,1,:),2,1))[2:end]

 Base.first(c::Colorant) = c
 Base.first(x::Symbol) = x


-sortedkeys(d::Dict) = sort(collect(keys(d)))
+sortedkeys(plotattributes::Dict) = sort(collect(keys(plotattributes)))

-"create an (n+1) list of the outsides of heatmap rectangles"
-function heatmap_edges(v::AVec)
-  vmin, vmax = extrema(v)
-  extra = 0.5 * (vmax-vmin) / (length(v)-1)
-  vcat(vmin-extra, 0.5 * (v[1:end-1] + v[2:end]), vmax+extra)
+
+const _scale_base = Dict{Symbol, Real}(
+    :log10 => 10,
+    :log2 => 2,
+    :ln => ℯ,
+)
+
+function _heatmap_edges(v::AVec)
+  vmin, vmax = ignorenan_extrema(v)
+  extra_min = (v[2] - v[1]) / 2
+  extra_max = (v[end] - v[end - 1]) / 2
+  vcat(vmin-extra_min, 0.5 * (v[1:end-1] + v[2:end]), vmax+extra_max)
 end

+"create an (n+1) list of the outsides of heatmap rectangles"
+function heatmap_edges(v::AVec, scale::Symbol = :identity)
+  f, invf = scalefunc(scale), invscalefunc(scale)
+  map(invf, _heatmap_edges(map(f,v)))
+end

 function calc_r_extrema(x, y)
-    xmin, xmax = extrema(x)
-    ymin, ymax = extrema(y)
-    r = 0.5 * min(xmax - xmin, ymax - ymin)
-    extrema(r)
+    xmin, xmax = ignorenan_extrema(x)
+    ymin, ymax = ignorenan_extrema(y)
+    r = 0.5 * NaNMath.min(xmax - xmin, ymax - ymin)
+    ignorenan_extrema(r)
 end

 function convert_to_polar(x, y, r_extrema = calc_r_extrema(x, y))
    rmin, rmax = r_extrema
-    phi, r = x, y
-    r = 0.5 * (r - rmin) / (rmax - rmin)
-    n = max(length(phi), length(r))
-    x = zeros(n)
-    y = zeros(n)
+    theta, r = filter_radial_data(x, y, r_extrema)
+    r = (r .- rmin) ./ (rmax .- rmin)
+    x = r.*cos.(theta)
+    y = r.*sin.(theta)
+    x, y
+end
+
+# Filters radial data for points within the axis limits
+function filter_radial_data(theta, r, r_extrema::Tuple{Real, Real})
+    n = max(length(theta), length(r))
+    rmin, rmax = r_extrema
+    x, y = zeros(n), zeros(n)
    for i in 1:n
-        x[i] = cycle(r,i) * cos(cycle(phi,i))
-        y[i] = cycle(r,i) * sin(cycle(phi,i))
+        x[i] = _cycle(theta, i)
+        y[i] = _cycle(r, i)
    end
+    points = map((a, b) -> (a, b), x, y)
+    filter!(a -> a[2] >= rmin && a[2] <= rmax, points)
+    x = map(a -> a[1], points)
+    y = map(a -> a[2], points)
    x, y
 end

@@ -369,12 +409,12 @@ function fakedata(sz...)
  y
 end

-isijulia() = isdefined(Main, :IJulia) && Main.IJulia.inited
-isatom() = isdefined(Main, :Atom) && Main.Atom.isconnected()
+isijulia() = :IJulia in nameof.(collect(values(Base.loaded_modules)))
+isatom() = :Atom in nameof.(collect(values(Base.loaded_modules)))

 function is_installed(pkgstr::AbstractString)
    try
-        Pkg.installed(pkgstr) === nothing ? false: true
+        Pkg.installed(pkgstr) === nothing ? false : true
    catch
        false
    end
@@ -392,24 +432,24 @@ isscalar(::Any)  = false
 is_2tuple(v) = typeof(v) <: Tuple && length(v) == 2


-isvertical(d::KW) = get(d, :orientation, :vertical) in (:vertical, :v, :vert)
-isvertical(series::Series) = isvertical(series.d)
+isvertical(plotattributes::KW) = get(plotattributes, :orientation, :vertical) in (:vertical, :v, :vert)
+isvertical(series::Series) = isvertical(series.plotattributes)


-ticksType{T<:Real}(ticks::AVec{T})                      = :ticks
-ticksType{T<:AbstractString}(ticks::AVec{T})            = :labels
-ticksType{T<:AVec,S<:AVec}(ticks::Tuple{T,S})  = :ticks_and_labels
+ticksType(ticks::AVec{T}) where {T<:Real}                      = :ticks
+ticksType(ticks::AVec{T}) where {T<:AbstractString}            = :labels
+ticksType(ticks::Tuple{T,S}) where {T<:AVec,S<:AVec}  = :ticks_and_labels
 ticksType(ticks)                                        = :invalid

-limsType{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S})    = :limits
+limsType(lims::Tuple{T,S}) where {T<:Real,S<:Real}    = :limits
 limsType(lims::Symbol)                                  = lims == :auto ? :auto : :invalid
 limsType(lims)                                          = :invalid

 # axis_Symbol(letter, postfix) = Symbol(letter * postfix)
 # axis_symbols(letter, postfix...) = map(s -> axis_Symbol(letter, s), postfix)

-Base.convert{T<:Real}(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::Range{T})         = T[x for x in rng]
-Base.convert{T<:Real,S<:Real}(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::Range{S}) = T[x for x in rng]
+Base.convert(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::AbstractRange{T}) where {T<:Real}         = T[x for x in rng]
+Base.convert(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::AbstractRange{S}) where {T<:Real,S<:Real} = T[x for x in rng]

 Base.merge(a::AbstractVector, b::AbstractVector) = sort(unique(vcat(a,b)))

@@ -452,8 +492,8 @@ end
 # this is a helper function to determine whether we need to transpose a surface matrix.
 # it depends on whether the backend matches rows to x (transpose_on_match == true) or vice versa
 # for example: PyPlot sends rows to y, so transpose_on_match should be true
-function transpose_z(d, z, transpose_on_match::Bool = true)
-    if d[:match_dimensions] == transpose_on_match
+function transpose_z(plotattributes, z, transpose_on_match::Bool = true)
+    if plotattributes[:match_dimensions] == transpose_on_match
        # z'
        permutedims(z, [2,1])
    else
@@ -469,7 +509,7 @@ ok(tup::Tuple) = ok(tup...)
 # compute one side of a fill range from a ribbon
 function make_fillrange_side(y, rib)
    frs = zeros(length(y))
-    for (i, (yi, ri)) in enumerate(zip(y, Base.cycle(rib)))
+    for (i, (yi, ri)) in enumerate(zip(y, Base.Iterators.cycle(rib)))
        frs[i] = yi + ri
    end
    frs
@@ -480,16 +520,44 @@ function make_fillrange_from_ribbon(kw::KW)
    y, rib = kw[:y], kw[:ribbon]
    rib = wraptuple(rib)
    rib1, rib2 = -first(rib), last(rib)
-    kw[:ribbon] = nothing
+    # kw[:ribbon] = nothing
    kw[:fillrange] = make_fillrange_side(y, rib1), make_fillrange_side(y, rib2)
+    (get(kw, :fillalpha, nothing) == nothing) && (kw[:fillalpha] = 0.5)
+end
+
+#turn tuple of fillranges to one path
+function concatenate_fillrange(x,y::Tuple)
+    rib1, rib2 = first(y), last(y)
+    yline = vcat(rib1,(rib2)[end:-1:1])
+    xline = vcat(x,x[end:-1:1])
+    return xline, yline
 end

 function get_sp_lims(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
    axis_limits(sp[Symbol(letter, :axis)])
 end
+
+"""
+    xlims([plt])
+
+Returns the x axis limits of the current plot or subplot
+"""
 xlims(sp::Subplot) = get_sp_lims(sp, :x)
+
+"""
+    ylims([plt])
+
+Returns the y axis limits of the current plot or subplot
+"""
 ylims(sp::Subplot) = get_sp_lims(sp, :y)
+
+"""
+    zlims([plt])
+
+Returns the z axis limits of the current plot or subplot
+"""
 zlims(sp::Subplot) = get_sp_lims(sp, :z)
+
 xlims(plt::Plot, sp_idx::Int = 1) = xlims(plt[sp_idx])
 ylims(plt::Plot, sp_idx::Int = 1) = ylims(plt[sp_idx])
 zlims(plt::Plot, sp_idx::Int = 1) = zlims(plt[sp_idx])
@@ -497,6 +565,124 @@ xlims(sp_idx::Int = 1) = xlims(current(), sp_idx)
 ylims(sp_idx::Int = 1) = ylims(current(), sp_idx)
 zlims(sp_idx::Int = 1) = zlims(current(), sp_idx)

+
+function get_clims(sp::Subplot)
+    zmin, zmax = Inf, -Inf
+    z_colored_series = (:contour, :contour3d, :heatmap, :histogram2d, :surface)
+    for series in series_list(sp)
+        for vals in (series[:seriestype] in z_colored_series ? series[:z] : nothing, series[:line_z], series[:marker_z], series[:fill_z])
+            if (typeof(vals) <: AbstractSurface) && (eltype(vals.surf) <: Real)
+                zmin, zmax = _update_clims(zmin, zmax, ignorenan_extrema(vals.surf)...)
+            elseif (vals != nothing) && (eltype(vals) <: Real)
+                zmin, zmax = _update_clims(zmin, zmax, ignorenan_extrema(vals)...)
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    clims = sp[:clims]
+    if is_2tuple(clims)
+        isfinite(clims[1]) && (zmin = clims[1])
+        isfinite(clims[2]) && (zmax = clims[2])
+    end
+    return zmin < zmax ? (zmin, zmax) : (-0.1, 0.1)
+end
+
+_update_clims(zmin, zmax, emin, emax) = min(zmin, emin), max(zmax, emax)
+
+function hascolorbar(series::Series)
+    st = series[:seriestype]
+    hascbar = st == :heatmap
+    if st == :contour
+        hascbar = (isscalar(series[:levels]) ? (series[:levels] > 1) : (length(series[:levels]) > 1)) && (length(unique(Array(series[:z]))) > 1)
+    end
+    if series[:marker_z] != nothing || series[:line_z] != nothing || series[:fill_z] != nothing
+        hascbar = true
+    end
+    # no colorbar if we are creating a surface LightSource
+    if xor(st == :surface, series[:fill_z] != nothing)
+        hascbar = true
+    end
+    return hascbar
+end
+
+function hascolorbar(sp::Subplot)
+    cbar = sp[:colorbar]
+    hascbar = false
+    if cbar != :none
+        for series in series_list(sp)
+            if hascolorbar(series)
+                hascbar = true
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    hascbar
+end
+
+for comp in (:line, :fill, :marker)
+
+    compcolor = string(comp, :color)
+    get_compcolor = Symbol(:get_, compcolor)
+    comp_z = string(comp, :_z)
+
+    compalpha = string(comp, :alpha)
+    get_compalpha = Symbol(:get_, compalpha)
+
+    @eval begin
+
+        function $get_compcolor(series, cmin::Real, cmax::Real, i::Int = 1)
+            c = series[$Symbol($compcolor)]
+            z = series[$Symbol($comp_z)]
+            if z == nothing
+                isa(c, ColorGradient) ? c : plot_color(_cycle(c, i))
+            else
+                grad = isa(c, ColorGradient) ? c : cgrad()
+                grad[clamp((_cycle(z, i) - cmin) / (cmax - cmin), 0, 1)]
+            end
+        end
+
+        $get_compcolor(series, clims, i::Int = 1) = $get_compcolor(series, clims[1], clims[2], i)
+
+        function $get_compcolor(series, i::Int = 1)
+            if series[$Symbol($comp_z)] == nothing
+                $get_compcolor(series, 0, 1, i)
+            else
+                $get_compcolor(series, get_clims(series[:subplot]), i)
+            end
+        end
+
+        $get_compalpha(series, i::Int = 1) = _cycle(series[$Symbol($compalpha)], i)
+    end
+end
+
+function get_linewidth(series, i::Int = 1)
+    _cycle(series[:linewidth], i)
+end
+
+function get_linestyle(series, i::Int = 1)
+    _cycle(series[:linestyle], i)
+end
+
+function get_markerstrokecolor(series, i::Int = 1)
+    msc = series[:markerstrokecolor]
+    isa(msc, ColorGradient) ? msc : _cycle(msc, i)
+end
+
+function get_markerstrokealpha(series, i::Int = 1)
+    _cycle(series[:markerstrokealpha], i)
+end
+
+function has_attribute_segments(series::Series)
+    # we want to check if a series needs to be split into segments just because
+    # of its attributes
+    for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
+        # If we have NaNs in the data they define the segments and
+        # SegmentsIterator is used
+        series[letter] != nothing && NaN in collect(series[letter]) && return false
+    end
+    series[:seriestype] == :shape && return false
+    # ... else we check relevant attributes if they have multiple inputs
+    return any((typeof(series[attr]) <: AbstractVector && length(series[attr]) > 1) for attr in [:seriescolor, :seriesalpha, :linecolor, :linealpha, :linewidth, :fillcolor, :fillalpha, :markercolor, :markeralpha, :markerstrokecolor, :markerstrokealpha]) || any(typeof(series[attr]) <: AbstractArray{<:Real} for attr in (:line_z, :fill_z, :marker_z))
+end
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------

 makekw(; kw...) = KW(kw)
@@ -523,7 +709,7 @@ allFunctions(arg)   = trueOrAllTrue(a -> isa(a, Function), arg)
 """
 Allows temporary setting of backend and defaults for Plots. Settings apply only for the `do` block.  Example:
 ```
-with(:gadfly, size=(400,400), type=:histogram) do
+with(:gr, size=(400,400), type=:histogram) do
  plot(rand(10))
  plot(rand(10))
 end
@@ -608,7 +794,7 @@ end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------

-type DebugMode
+mutable struct DebugMode
  on::Bool
 end
 const _debugMode = DebugMode(false)
@@ -620,20 +806,20 @@ end
 debugshow(x) = show(x)
 debugshow(x::AbstractArray) = print(summary(x))

-function dumpdict(d::KW, prefix = "", alwaysshow = false)
+function dumpdict(plotattributes::KW, prefix = "", alwaysshow = false)
  _debugMode.on || alwaysshow || return
  println()
  if prefix != ""
    println(prefix, ":")
  end
-  for k in sort(collect(keys(d)))
+  for k in sort(collect(keys(plotattributes)))
    @printf("%14s: ", k)
-    debugshow(d[k])
+    debugshow(plotattributes[k])
    println()
  end
  println()
 end
-DD(d::KW, prefix = "") = dumpdict(d, prefix, true)
+DD(plotattributes::KW, prefix = "") = dumpdict(plotattributes, prefix, true)


 function dumpcallstack()
@@ -645,44 +831,44 @@ end
 # used in updating an existing series

 extendSeriesByOne(v::UnitRange{Int}, n::Int = 1) = isempty(v) ? (1:n) : (minimum(v):maximum(v)+n)
-extendSeriesByOne(v::AVec, n::Integer = 1)       = isempty(v) ? (1:n) : vcat(v, (1:n) + maximum(v))
-extendSeriesData{T}(v::Range{T}, z::Real)        = extendSeriesData(float(collect(v)), z)
-extendSeriesData{T}(v::Range{T}, z::AVec)        = extendSeriesData(float(collect(v)), z)
-extendSeriesData{T}(v::AVec{T}, z::Real)         = (push!(v, convert(T, z)); v)
-extendSeriesData{T}(v::AVec{T}, z::AVec)         = (append!(v, convert(Vector{T}, z)); v)
+extendSeriesByOne(v::AVec, n::Integer = 1)       = isempty(v) ? (1:n) : vcat(v, (1:n) + ignorenan_maximum(v))
+extendSeriesData(v::AbstractRange{T}, z::Real) where {T}        = extendSeriesData(float(collect(v)), z)
+extendSeriesData(v::AbstractRange{T}, z::AVec) where {T}        = extendSeriesData(float(collect(v)), z)
+extendSeriesData(v::AVec{T}, z::Real) where {T}         = (push!(v, convert(T, z)); v)
+extendSeriesData(v::AVec{T}, z::AVec) where {T}         = (append!(v, convert(Vector{T}, z)); v)


 # -------------------------------------------------------
 # NOTE: backends should implement the following methods to get/set the x/y/z data objects

 tovec(v::AbstractVector) = v
-tovec(v::Void) = zeros(0)
+tovec(v::Nothing) = zeros(0)

 function getxy(plt::Plot, i::Integer)
-    d = plt.series_list[i].d
-    tovec(d[:x]), tovec(d[:y])
+    plotattributes = plt.series_list[i].plotattributes
+    tovec(plotattributes[:x]), tovec(plotattributes[:y])
 end
 function getxyz(plt::Plot, i::Integer)
-    d = plt.series_list[i].d
-    tovec(d[:x]), tovec(d[:y]), tovec(d[:z])
+    plotattributes = plt.series_list[i].plotattributes
+    tovec(plotattributes[:x]), tovec(plotattributes[:y]), tovec(plotattributes[:z])
 end

-function setxy!{X,Y}(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer)
+function setxy!(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y}
    series = plt.series_list[i]
-    series.d[:x], series.d[:y] = xy
-    sp = series.d[:subplot]
+    series.plotattributes[:x], series.plotattributes[:y] = xy
+    sp = series.plotattributes[:subplot]
    reset_extrema!(sp)
    _series_updated(plt, series)
 end
-function setxyz!{X,Y,Z}(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer)
+function setxyz!(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer) where {X,Y,Z}
    series = plt.series_list[i]
-    series.d[:x], series.d[:y], series.d[:z] = xyz
-    sp = series.d[:subplot]
+    series.plotattributes[:x], series.plotattributes[:y], series.plotattributes[:z] = xyz
+    sp = series.plotattributes[:subplot]
    reset_extrema!(sp)
    _series_updated(plt, series)
 end

-function setxyz!{X,Y,Z<:AbstractMatrix}(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer)
+function setxyz!(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer) where {X,Y,Z<:AbstractMatrix}
    setxyz!(plt, (xyz[1], xyz[2], Surface(xyz[3])), i)
 end

@@ -691,8 +877,8 @@ end
 # indexing notation

 # Base.getindex(plt::Plot, i::Integer) = getxy(plt, i)
-Base.setindex!{X,Y}(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) = (setxy!(plt, xy, i); plt)
-Base.setindex!{X,Y,Z}(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer) = (setxyz!(plt, xyz, i); plt)
+Base.setindex!(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y} = (setxy!(plt, xy, i); plt)
+Base.setindex!(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer) where {X,Y,Z} = (setxyz!(plt, xyz, i); plt)

 # -------------------------------------------------------

@@ -726,13 +912,13 @@ Base.push!(series::Series, xi, yi, zi) = (push_x!(series,xi); push_y!(series,yi)
 # -------------------------------------------------------

 function attr!(series::Series; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    for (k,v) in d
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
        if haskey(_series_defaults, k)
            series[k] = v
        else
-            warn("unused key $k in series attr")
+            @warn("unused key $k in series attr")
        end
    end
    _series_updated(series[:subplot].plt, series)
@@ -740,13 +926,13 @@ function attr!(series::Series; kw...)
 end

 function attr!(sp::Subplot; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    for (k,v) in d
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
        if haskey(_subplot_defaults, k)
            sp[k] = v
        else
-            warn("unused key $k in subplot attr")
+            @warn("unused key $k in subplot attr")
        end
    end
    sp
@@ -804,10 +990,10 @@ function Base.append!(plt::Plot, i::Integer, x::AVec, y::AVec, z::AVec)
 end

 # tuples
-Base.push!{X,Y}(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y})                  = push!(plt, 1, xy...)
-Base.push!{X,Y,Z}(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z})             = push!(plt, 1, xyz...)
-Base.push!{X,Y}(plt::Plot, i::Integer, xy::Tuple{X,Y})      = push!(plt, i, xy...)
-Base.push!{X,Y,Z}(plt::Plot, i::Integer, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}) = push!(plt, i, xyz...)
+Base.push!(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}) where {X,Y}                  = push!(plt, 1, xy...)
+Base.push!(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}) where {X,Y,Z}             = push!(plt, 1, xyz...)
+Base.push!(plt::Plot, i::Integer, xy::Tuple{X,Y}) where {X,Y}      = push!(plt, i, xy...)
+Base.push!(plt::Plot, i::Integer, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}) where {X,Y,Z} = push!(plt, i, xyz...)

 # -------------------------------------------------------
 # push/append for all series
@@ -871,9 +1057,152 @@ mm2px(mm::Real)         = float(px / MM_PER_PX)


 "Smallest x in plot"
-xmin(plt::Plot) = minimum([minimum(series.d[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
+xmin(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_minimum([ignorenan_minimum(series.plotattributes[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
 "Largest x in plot"
-xmax(plt::Plot) = maximum([maximum(series.d[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
+xmax(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_maximum([ignorenan_maximum(series.plotattributes[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])

 "Extrema of x-values in plot"
-Base.extrema(plt::Plot) = (xmin(plt), xmax(plt))
+ignorenan_extrema(plt::Plot) = (xmin(plt), xmax(plt))
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# get fonts from objects:
+
+titlefont(sp::Subplot) = font(
+    sp[:titlefontfamily],
+    sp[:titlefontsize],
+    sp[:titlefontvalign],
+    sp[:titlefonthalign],
+    sp[:titlefontrotation],
+    sp[:titlefontcolor],
+)
+
+legendfont(sp::Subplot) = font(
+    sp[:legendfontfamily],
+    sp[:legendfontsize],
+    sp[:legendfontvalign],
+    sp[:legendfonthalign],
+    sp[:legendfontrotation],
+    sp[:legendfontcolor],
+)
+
+tickfont(ax::Axis) = font(
+    ax[:tickfontfamily],
+    ax[:tickfontsize],
+    ax[:tickfontvalign],
+    ax[:tickfonthalign],
+    ax[:tickfontrotation],
+    ax[:tickfontcolor],
+)
+
+guidefont(ax::Axis) = font(
+    ax[:guidefontfamily],
+    ax[:guidefontsize],
+    ax[:guidefontvalign],
+    ax[:guidefonthalign],
+    ax[:guidefontrotation],
+    ax[:guidefontcolor],
+)
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------
+# converts unicode scientific notation unsupported by pgfplots and gr
+# into a format that works
+
+function convert_sci_unicode(label::AbstractString)
+    unicode_dict = Dict(
+    '⁰' => "0",
+    '¹' => "1",
+    '²' => "2",
+    '³' => "3",
+    '⁴' => "4",
+    '⁵' => "5",
+    '⁶' => "6",
+    '⁷' => "7",
+    '⁸' => "8",
+    '⁹' => "9",
+    '⁻' => "-",
+    "×10" => "×10^{",
+    )
+    for key in keys(unicode_dict)
+        label = replace(label, key => unicode_dict[key])
+    end
+    if occursin("10^{", label)
+        label = string(label, "}")
+    end
+    label
+end
+
+function straightline_data(series)
+    sp = series[:subplot]
+    xl, yl = isvertical(series) ? (xlims(sp), ylims(sp)) : (ylims(sp), xlims(sp))
+    x, y = series[:x], series[:y]
+    n = length(x)
+    if n == 2
+        return straightline_data(xl, yl, x, y)
+    else
+        k, r = divrem(n, 3)
+        if r == 0
+            xdata, ydata = fill(NaN, n), fill(NaN, n)
+            for i in 1:k
+                inds = (3 * i - 2):(3 * i - 1)
+                xdata[inds], ydata[inds] = straightline_data(xl, yl, x[inds], y[inds])
+            end
+            return xdata, ydata
+        else
+            error("Misformed data. `straightline_data` either accepts vectors of length 2 or 3k. The provided series has length $n")
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+function straightline_data(xl, yl, x, y)
+    x_vals, y_vals = if y[1] == y[2]
+        if x[1] == x[2]
+            error("Two identical points cannot be used to describe a straight line.")
+        else
+            [xl[1], xl[2]], [y[1], y[2]]
+        end
+    elseif x[1] == x[2]
+        [x[1], x[2]], [yl[1], yl[2]]
+    else
+        # get a and b from the line y = a * x + b through the points given by
+        # the coordinates x and x
+        b = y[1] - (y[1] - y[2]) * x[1] / (x[1] - x[2])
+        a = (y[1] - y[2]) / (x[1] - x[2])
+        # get the data values
+        xdata = [clamp(x[1] + (x[1] - x[2]) * (ylim - y[1]) / (y[1] - y[2]), xl...) for ylim in yl]
+
+        xdata, a .* xdata .+ b
+    end
+    # expand the data outside the axis limits, by a certain factor too improve
+    # plotly(js) and interactive behaviour
+    factor = 100
+    x_vals = x_vals .+ (x_vals[2] - x_vals[1]) .* factor .* [-1, 1]
+    y_vals = y_vals .+ (y_vals[2] - y_vals[1]) .* factor .* [-1, 1]
+    return x_vals, y_vals
+end
+
+function shape_data(series)
+    sp = series[:subplot]
+    xl, yl = isvertical(series) ? (xlims(sp), ylims(sp)) : (ylims(sp), xlims(sp))
+    x, y = series[:x], series[:y]
+    factor = 100
+    for i in eachindex(x)
+        if x[i] == -Inf
+            x[i] = xl[1] - factor * (xl[2] - xl[1])
+        elseif x[i] == Inf
+            x[i] = xl[2] + factor * (xl[2] - xl[1])
+        end
+    end
+    for i in eachindex(y)
+        if y[i] == -Inf
+            y[i] = yl[1] - factor * (yl[2] - yl[1])
+        elseif y[i] == Inf
+            y[i] = yl[2] + factor * (yl[2] - yl[1])
+        end
+    end
+    return x, y
+end
+
+function construct_categorical_data(x::AbstractArray, axis::Axis)
+    map(xi -> axis[:discrete_values][searchsortedfirst(axis[:continuous_values], xi)], x)
+end
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 StatPlots
-FactCheck
 Images
 ImageMagick
@osx QuartzImageIO
-GR
+FileIO
+GR 0.31.0
 RDatasets
 VisualRegressionTests
 UnicodePlots
-Glob
+LaTeXStrings
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+using Pkg
+
+# need this to use Conda
+# ENV["PYTHON"] = ""
+
+to_add = [
+    PackageSpec(url="https://github.com/JuliaPlots/PlotReferenceImages.jl.git"),
+    # PackageSpec(url="https://github.com/JuliaStats/KernelDensity.jl.git"),
+    PackageSpec(name="PlotUtils", rev="master"),
+    PackageSpec(name="RecipesBase", rev="master"),
+    # PackageSpec(name="Blink", rev="master"),
+    # PackageSpec(name="Rsvg", rev="master"),
+    # PackageSpec(name="PlotlyJS", rev="master"),
+    # PackageSpec(name="VisualRegressionTests", rev="master"),
+    # PackageSpec("PyPlot"),
+    # PackageSpec("InspectDR"),
+]
+
+if isinteractive()
+    append!(to_add, [
+        PackageSpec(name="FileIO"),
+        PackageSpec(name="ImageMagick"),
+        PackageSpec(name="UnicodePlots"),
+        PackageSpec(name="VisualRegressionTests"),
+    ])
+end
+
+Pkg.add(to_add)
+
+Pkg.build("ImageMagick")
+# Pkg.build("GR")
+# Pkg.build("Blink")
+# import Blink
+# Blink.AtomShell.install()
+# Pkg.build("PyPlot")
@@ -2,21 +2,26 @@
 using VisualRegressionTests
 # using ExamplePlots

-import DataFrames, RDatasets
+if isinteractive()
+    @eval Main import Gtk
+end
+
+# import DataFrames, RDatasets

 # don't let pyplot use a gui... it'll crash
 # note: Agg will set gui -> :none in PyPlot
-ENV["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
-try
-  @eval import PyPlot
-  info("Matplotlib version: $(PyPlot.matplotlib[:__version__])")
-end
+# ENV["MPLBACKEND"] = "Agg"
+# try
+#   @eval import PyPlot
+#   @info("Matplotlib version: $(PyPlot.matplotlib[:__version__])")
+# end


 using Plots
-using StatPlots
-using FactCheck
-using Glob
+# using StatPlots
+import PlotReferenceImages
+using Random
+using Test

 default(size=(500,300))

@@ -24,30 +29,27 @@ default(size=(500,300))
 # TODO: use julia's Condition type and the wait() and notify() functions to initialize a Window, then wait() on a condition that
 #       is referenced in a button press callback (the button clicked callback will call notify() on that condition)

-const _current_plots_version = v"0.9.6"
+const _current_plots_version = v"0.17.4"


-function image_comparison_tests(pkg::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, popup = isinteractive(), sigma = [1,1], eps = 1e-2)
+function image_comparison_tests(pkg::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, popup = isinteractive(), sigma = [1,1], tol = 1e-2)
    Plots._debugMode.on = debug
    example = Plots._examples[idx]
-    info("Testing plot: $pkg:$idx:$(example.header)")
+    @info("Testing plot: $pkg:$idx:$(example.header)")
    backend(pkg)
    backend()

    # ensure consistent results
-    srand(1234)
+    Random.seed!(1234)

    # reference image directory setup
    # refdir = joinpath(Pkg.dir("ExamplePlots"), "test", "refimg", string(pkg))
-    refdir = Pkg.dir("PlotReferenceImages", "Plots", string(pkg))
+    refdir = joinpath(dirname(pathof(PlotReferenceImages)), "..", "Plots", string(pkg))
    fn = "ref$idx.png"

    # firgure out version info
-    G = glob(joinpath(relpath(refdir), "*"))
-    # @show refdir fn G
-    slash = (@static is_windows() ? "\\" : "/")
-    versions = map(fn -> VersionNumber(split(fn, slash)[end]), G)
-    versions = reverse(sort(versions))
+    vns = filter(x->x[1] != '.', readdir(refdir))
+    versions = sort(VersionNumber.(vns), rev = true)
    versions = filter(v -> v <= _current_plots_version, versions)
    # @show refdir fn versions

@@ -87,7 +89,7 @@ function image_comparison_tests(pkg::Symbol, idx::Int; debug = false, popup = is

    # the test
    vtest = VisualTest(func, reffn, idx)
-    test_images(vtest, popup=popup, sigma=sigma, eps=eps, newfn = newfn)
+    test_images(vtest, popup=popup, sigma=sigma, tol=tol, newfn = newfn)
 end

 function image_comparison_facts(pkg::Symbol;
@@ -95,11 +97,11 @@ function image_comparison_facts(pkg::Symbol;
                                only = nothing, # limit to these examples (int index)
                                debug = false,  # print debug information?
                                sigma = [1,1],  # number of pixels to "blur"
-                                eps = 1e-2)     # acceptable error (percent)
+                                tol = 1e-2)     # acceptable error (percent)
  for i in 1:length(Plots._examples)
    i in skip && continue
    if only == nothing || i in only
-      @fact image_comparison_tests(pkg, i, debug=debug, sigma=sigma, eps=eps) |> success --> true
+      @test image_comparison_tests(pkg, i, debug=debug, sigma=sigma, tol=tol) |> success == true
    end
  end
 end
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ set -ex
 sudo apt-get -qq update
 # sudo apt-get install -y wkhtmltopdf

-sudo apt-get install -y xfonts-75dpi
-wget http://download.gna.org/wkhtmltopdf/0.12/0.12.2/wkhtmltox-0.12.2_linux-trusty-amd64.deb
-sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox-0.12.2_linux-trusty-amd64.deb
+sudo apt-get install -y xfonts-75dpi xfonts-base
+wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/wkhtmltopdf/releases/download/0.12.2.1/wkhtmltox-0.12.2.1_linux-precise-amd64.deb
+sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox-0.12.2.1_linux-precise-amd64.deb
+# wget http://download.gna.org/wkhtmltopdf/0.12/0.12.2/wkhtmltox-0.12.2_linux-trusty-amd64.deb
+# sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox-0.12.2_linux-trusty-amd64.deb
 wkhtmltoimage http://www.google.com test.png
 ls

@@ -1,95 +1,143 @@
 module PlotsTests

+include("add_packages.jl")
 include("imgcomp.jl")

 # don't actually show the plots
-srand(1234)
+Random.seed!(1234)
 default(show=false, reuse=true)
-img_eps = isinteractive() ? 1e-2 : 10e-2
+img_tol = isinteractive() ? 1e-2 : 10e-2

-# facts("Gadfly") do
-#     @fact gadfly() --> Plots.GadflyBackend()
-#     @fact backend() --> Plots.GadflyBackend()
-#
-#     @fact typeof(plot(1:10)) --> Plots.Plot{Plots.GadflyBackend}
-#     @fact plot(Int[1,2,3], rand(3)) --> not(nothing)
-#     @fact plot(sort(rand(10)), rand(Int, 10, 3)) --> not(nothing)
-#     @fact plot!(rand(10,3), rand(10,3)) --> not(nothing)
-#
-#     image_comparison_facts(:gadfly, skip=[4,6,23,24,27], eps=img_eps)
-# end
+@testset "GR" begin
+    ENV["PLOTS_TEST"] = "true"
+    ENV["GKSwstype"] = "100"
+    @test gr() == Plots.GRBackend()
+    @test backend() == Plots.GRBackend()

-facts("PyPlot") do
-    @fact pyplot() --> Plots.PyPlotBackend()
-    @fact backend() --> Plots.PyPlotBackend()
-
-    image_comparison_facts(:pyplot, skip=[25,30], eps=img_eps)
-end
-
-facts("GR") do
-    @fact gr() --> Plots.GRBackend()
-    @fact backend() --> Plots.GRBackend()
-
-    if is_linux() && isinteractive()
-        image_comparison_facts(:gr, skip=[2,25,30], eps=img_eps)
-    end
-end
-
-facts("Plotly") do
-    @fact plotly() --> Plots.PlotlyBackend()
-    @fact backend() --> Plots.PlotlyBackend()
-
-    # # until png generation is reliable on OSX, just test on linux
-    # @static is_linux() && image_comparison_facts(:plotly, only=[1,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15,20,22,23,27], eps=img_eps)
+    image_comparison_facts(:gr, tol=img_tol, skip = [25, 30])
 end


-# facts("Immerse") do
-#     @fact immerse() --> Plots.ImmerseBackend()
-#     @fact backend() --> Plots.ImmerseBackend()
+#@testset "PyPlot" begin
+#    @test pyplot() == Plots.PyPlotBackend()
+#    @test backend() == Plots.PyPlotBackend()
 #
-#     # as long as we can plot anything without error, it should be the same as Gadfly
-#     image_comparison_facts(:immerse, only=[1], eps=img_eps)
-# end
+#    image_comparison_facts(:pyplot, tol=img_tol)
+#end

-
-# facts("PlotlyJS") do
-#     @fact plotlyjs() --> Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
-#     @fact backend() --> Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
-#
-#     # as long as we can plot anything without error, it should be the same as Plotly
-#     image_comparison_facts(:plotlyjs, only=[1], eps=img_eps)
-# end
-
-
-facts("UnicodePlots") do
-    @fact unicodeplots() --> Plots.UnicodePlotsBackend()
-    @fact backend() --> Plots.UnicodePlotsBackend()
+@testset "UnicodePlots" begin
+    @test unicodeplots() == Plots.UnicodePlotsBackend()
+    @test backend() == Plots.UnicodePlotsBackend()

    # lets just make sure it runs without error
-    @fact isa(plot(rand(10)), Plots.Plot) --> true
+    @test isa(plot(rand(10)), Plots.Plot) == true
 end

+# The plotlyjs testimages return a connection error on travis:
+# connect: connection refused (ECONNREFUSED)
+
+# @testset "PlotlyJS" begin
+#     @test plotlyjs() == Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
+#
+#     if Sys.islinux() && isinteractive()
+#         image_comparison_facts(:plotlyjs,
+#             skip=[
+#                 2,  # animation (skipped for speed)
+#                 27, # (polar plots) takes very long / not working
+#                 31, # animation (skipped for speed)
+#             ],
+#             tol=img_tol)
+#     end
+# end


-facts("Axes") do
+# InspectDR returns that error on travis:
+# ERROR: LoadError: InitError: Cannot open display:
+#  in Gtk.GLib.GError(::Gtk.##229#230) at /home/travis/.julia/v0.5/Gtk/src/GLib/gerror.jl:17
+
+# @testset "InspectDR" begin
+#     @test inspectdr() == Plots.InspectDRBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.InspectDRBackend()
+#
+#     image_comparison_facts(:inspectdr,
+#         skip=[
+#             2,  # animation
+#             6,  # heatmap not defined
+#             10, # heatmap not defined
+#             22, # contour not defined
+#             23, # pie not defined
+#             27, # polar plot not working
+#             28, # heatmap not defined
+#             31, # animation
+#         ],
+#         tol=img_tol)
+# end
+
+
+# @testset "Plotly" begin
+#     @test plotly() == Plots.PlotlyBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.PlotlyBackend()
+#
+#     # # until png generation is reliable on OSX, just test on linux
+#     # @static Sys.islinux() && image_comparison_facts(:plotly, only=[1,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,15,20,22,23,27], tol=img_tol)
+# end
+
+
+# @testset "Immerse" begin
+#     @test immerse() == Plots.ImmerseBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.ImmerseBackend()
+#
+#     # as long as we can plot anything without error, it should be the same as Gadfly
+#     image_comparison_facts(:immerse, only=[1], tol=img_tol)
+# end
+
+
+# @testset "PlotlyJS" begin
+#     @test plotlyjs() == Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.PlotlyJSBackend()
+#
+#     # as long as we can plot anything without error, it should be the same as Plotly
+#     image_comparison_facts(:plotlyjs, only=[1], tol=img_tol)
+# end
+
+
+# @testset "Gadfly" begin
+#     @test gadfly() == Plots.GadflyBackend()
+#     @test backend() == Plots.GadflyBackend()
+#
+#     @test typeof(plot(1:10)) == Plots.Plot{Plots.GadflyBackend}
+#     @test plot(Int[1,2,3], rand(3)) == not(nothing)
+#     @test plot(sort(rand(10)), rand(Int, 10, 3)) == not(nothing)
+#     @test plot!(rand(10,3), rand(10,3)) == not(nothing)
+#
+#     image_comparison_facts(:gadfly, skip=[4,6,23,24,27], tol=img_tol)
+# end
+
+
+
+
+@testset "Axes" begin
    p = plot()
    axis = p.subplots[1][:xaxis]
-    @fact typeof(axis) --> Plots.Axis
-    @fact Plots.discrete_value!(axis, "HI") --> (0.5, 1)
-    @fact Plots.discrete_value!(axis, :yo) --> (1.5, 2)
-    @fact extrema(axis) --> (0.5,1.5)
-    @fact axis[:discrete_map] --> Dict{Any,Any}(:yo  => 2, "HI" => 1)
+    @test typeof(axis) == Plots.Axis
+    @test Plots.discrete_value!(axis, "HI") == (0.5, 1)
+    @test Plots.discrete_value!(axis, :yo) == (1.5, 2)
+    @test Plots.ignorenan_extrema(axis) == (0.5,1.5)
+    @test axis[:discrete_map] == Dict{Any,Any}(:yo  => 2, "HI" => 1)

    Plots.discrete_value!(axis, ["x$i" for i=1:5])
    Plots.discrete_value!(axis, ["x$i" for i=0:2])
-    @fact extrema(axis) --> (0.5, 7.5)
+    @test Plots.ignorenan_extrema(axis) == (0.5, 7.5)
 end

+@testset "NoFail" begin
+    histogram([1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0])
+end

 # tests for preprocessing recipes

-# facts("recipes") do
+# @testset "recipes" begin

    # user recipe

@@ -126,6 +174,4 @@ end
 # end


-
-FactCheck.exitstatus()
 end # module
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-# Pkg.clone("ImageMagick")
-# Pkg.build("ImageMagick")
-
-# Pkg.clone("GR")
-# Pkg.build("GR")
-
-Pkg.clone("https://github.com/JuliaPlots/PlotReferenceImages.jl.git")
-
-# Pkg.clone("https://github.com/JuliaStats/KernelDensity.jl.git")
-
-Pkg.clone("StatPlots")
-Pkg.checkout("PlotUtils")
-
-# Pkg.clone("https://github.com/JunoLab/Blink.jl.git")
-# Pkg.build("Blink")
-# import Blink
-# Blink.AtomShell.install()
-# Pkg.clone("https://github.com/spencerlyon2/PlotlyJS.jl.git")
-
-# Pkg.checkout("RecipesBase")
-# Pkg.clone("VisualRegressionTests")
-
-# need this to use Conda
-ENV["PYTHON"] = ""
-Pkg.add("PyPlot")
-Pkg.build("PyPlot")
-
-Pkg.test("Plots"; coverage=false)