diff --git a/matplotlibcpp.h b/matplotlibcpp.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95d3772
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matplotlibcpp.h
@@ -0,0 +1,1164 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+#include <numeric>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <stdint.h> // <cstdint> requires c++11 support
+
+#if __cplusplus > 199711L || _MSC_VER > 1800
+#  include <functional>
+#endif
+
+#include <Python.h>
+
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NUMPY
+#  define NPY_NO_DEPRECATED_API NPY_1_7_API_VERSION
+#  include <numpy/arrayobject.h>
+#endif // WITHOUT_NUMPY
+
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+#  define PyString_FromString PyUnicode_FromString
+#endif
+
+
+namespace matplotlibcpp {
+namespace detail {
+
+static std::string s_backend;
+
+struct _interpreter {
+    PyObject *s_python_function_show;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_close;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_draw;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_pause;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_save;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_figure;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_plot;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_semilogx;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_semilogy;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_loglog;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_fill_between;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_hist;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_subplot;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_legend;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_xlim;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_ion;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_ylim;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_title;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_axis;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_xlabel;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_ylabel;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_grid;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_clf;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_errorbar;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_annotate;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_tight_layout;
+    PyObject *s_python_empty_tuple;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_stem;
+    PyObject *s_python_function_xkcd;
+
+    /* For now, _interpreter is implemented as a singleton since its currently not possible to have
+       multiple independent embedded python interpreters without patching the python source code
+       or starting a separate process for each.
+        http://bytes.com/topic/python/answers/793370-multiple-independent-python-interpreters-c-c-program
+       */
+
+    static _interpreter& get() {
+        static _interpreter ctx;
+        return ctx;
+    }
+
+private:
+
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NUMPY
+#  if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+
+    void *import_numpy() {
+        import_array(); // initialize C-API
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+#  else
+
+    void import_numpy() {
+        import_array(); // initialize C-API
+    }
+
+#  endif
+#endif
+
+    _interpreter() {
+
+        // optional but recommended
+#if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+        wchar_t name[] = L"plotting";
+#else
+        char name[] = "plotting";
+#endif
+        Py_SetProgramName(name);
+        Py_Initialize();
+
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NUMPY
+        import_numpy(); // initialize numpy C-API
+#endif
+
+        PyObject* matplotlibname = PyString_FromString("matplotlib");
+        PyObject* pyplotname = PyString_FromString("matplotlib.pyplot");
+        PyObject* pylabname  = PyString_FromString("pylab");
+        if (!pyplotname || !pylabname || !matplotlibname) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("couldnt create string");
+        }
+
+        PyObject* matplotlib = PyImport_Import(matplotlibname);
+        Py_DECREF(matplotlibname);
+        if (!matplotlib) { throw std::runtime_error("Error loading module matplotlib!"); }
+
+        // matplotlib.use() must be called *before* pylab, matplotlib.pyplot,
+        // or matplotlib.backends is imported for the first time
+        if (!s_backend.empty()) {
+            PyObject_CallMethod(matplotlib, const_cast<char*>("use"), const_cast<char*>("s"), s_backend.c_str());
+        }
+
+        PyObject* pymod = PyImport_Import(pyplotname);
+        Py_DECREF(pyplotname);
+        if (!pymod) { throw std::runtime_error("Error loading module matplotlib.pyplot!"); }
+
+
+        PyObject* pylabmod = PyImport_Import(pylabname);
+        Py_DECREF(pylabname);
+        if (!pylabmod) { throw std::runtime_error("Error loading module pylab!"); }
+
+        s_python_function_show = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "show");
+        s_python_function_close = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "close");
+        s_python_function_draw = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "draw");
+        s_python_function_pause = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "pause");
+        s_python_function_figure = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "figure");
+        s_python_function_plot = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "plot");
+        s_python_function_semilogx = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "semilogx");
+        s_python_function_semilogy = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "semilogy");
+        s_python_function_loglog = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "loglog");
+        s_python_function_fill_between = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "fill_between");
+        s_python_function_hist = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod,"hist");
+        s_python_function_subplot = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "subplot");
+        s_python_function_legend = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "legend");
+        s_python_function_ylim = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "ylim");
+        s_python_function_title = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "title");
+        s_python_function_axis = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "axis");
+        s_python_function_xlabel = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "xlabel");
+        s_python_function_ylabel = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "ylabel");
+        s_python_function_grid = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "grid");
+        s_python_function_xlim = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "xlim");
+        s_python_function_ion = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "ion");
+        s_python_function_save = PyObject_GetAttrString(pylabmod, "savefig");
+        s_python_function_annotate = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod,"annotate");
+        s_python_function_clf = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "clf");
+        s_python_function_errorbar = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "errorbar");
+        s_python_function_tight_layout = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "tight_layout");
+        s_python_function_stem = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "stem");
+        s_python_function_xkcd = PyObject_GetAttrString(pymod, "xkcd");
+
+        if(    !s_python_function_show
+            || !s_python_function_close
+            || !s_python_function_draw
+            || !s_python_function_pause
+            || !s_python_function_figure
+            || !s_python_function_plot
+            || !s_python_function_semilogx
+            || !s_python_function_semilogy
+            || !s_python_function_loglog
+            || !s_python_function_fill_between
+            || !s_python_function_subplot
+            || !s_python_function_legend
+            || !s_python_function_ylim
+            || !s_python_function_title
+            || !s_python_function_axis
+            || !s_python_function_xlabel
+            || !s_python_function_ylabel
+            || !s_python_function_grid
+            || !s_python_function_xlim
+            || !s_python_function_ion
+            || !s_python_function_save
+            || !s_python_function_clf
+            || !s_python_function_annotate
+            || !s_python_function_errorbar
+            || !s_python_function_errorbar
+            || !s_python_function_tight_layout
+            || !s_python_function_stem
+            || !s_python_function_xkcd
+        ) { throw std::runtime_error("Couldn't find required function!"); }
+
+        if (   !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_show)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_close)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_draw)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_pause)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_figure)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_plot)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_semilogx)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_semilogy)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_loglog)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_fill_between)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_subplot)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_legend)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_annotate)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_ylim)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_title)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_axis)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_xlabel)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_ylabel)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_grid)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_xlim)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_ion)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_save)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_clf)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_tight_layout)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_errorbar)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_stem)
+            || !PyFunction_Check(s_python_function_xkcd)
+        ) { throw std::runtime_error("Python object is unexpectedly not a PyFunction."); }
+
+        s_python_empty_tuple = PyTuple_New(0);
+    }
+
+    ~_interpreter() {
+        Py_Finalize();
+    }
+};
+
+} // end namespace detail
+
+// must be called before the first regular call to matplotlib to have any effect
+inline void backend(const std::string& name)
+{
+    detail::s_backend = name;
+}
+
+inline bool annotate(std::string annotation, double x, double y)
+{
+    PyObject * xy = PyTuple_New(2);
+    PyObject * str = PyString_FromString(annotation.c_str());
+
+    PyTuple_SetItem(xy,0,PyFloat_FromDouble(x));
+    PyTuple_SetItem(xy,1,PyFloat_FromDouble(y));
+
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "xy", xy);
+
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, str);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_annotate, args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NUMPY
+// Type selector for numpy array conversion
+template <typename T> struct select_npy_type { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_NOTYPE; }; //Default
+template <> struct select_npy_type<double> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_DOUBLE; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<float> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_FLOAT; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<bool> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_BOOL; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<int8_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_INT8; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<int16_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_SHORT; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<int32_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_INT; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<int64_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_INT64; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<uint8_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_UINT8; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<uint16_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_USHORT; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<uint32_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_ULONG; };
+template <> struct select_npy_type<uint64_t> { const static NPY_TYPES type = NPY_UINT64; };
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+PyObject* get_array(const std::vector<Numeric>& v)
+{
+    detail::_interpreter::get();    //interpreter needs to be initialized for the numpy commands to work
+    NPY_TYPES type = select_npy_type<Numeric>::type;
+    if (type == NPY_NOTYPE)
+    {
+        std::vector<double> vd(v.size());
+        npy_intp vsize = v.size();
+        std::copy(v.begin(),v.end(),vd.begin());
+        PyObject* varray = PyArray_SimpleNewFromData(1, &vsize, NPY_DOUBLE, (void*)(vd.data()));
+        return varray;
+    }
+
+    npy_intp vsize = v.size();
+    PyObject* varray = PyArray_SimpleNewFromData(1, &vsize, type, (void*)(v.data()));
+    return varray;
+}
+
+#else // fallback if we don't have numpy: copy every element of the given vector
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+PyObject* get_array(const std::vector<Numeric>& v)
+{
+    PyObject* list = PyList_New(v.size());
+    for(size_t i = 0; i < v.size(); ++i) {
+        PyList_SetItem(list, i, PyFloat_FromDouble(v.at(i)));
+    }
+    return list;
+}
+
+#endif // WITHOUT_NUMPY
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool plot(const std::vector<Numeric> &x, const std::vector<Numeric> &y, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& keywords)
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    // using numpy arrays
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    // construct positional args
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(2);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 1, yarray);
+
+    // construct keyword args
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    for(std::map<std::string, std::string>::const_iterator it = keywords.begin(); it != keywords.end(); ++it)
+    {
+        PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, it->first.c_str(), PyString_FromString(it->second.c_str()));
+    }
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_plot, args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool stem(const std::vector<Numeric> &x, const std::vector<Numeric> &y, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& keywords)
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    // using numpy arrays
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    // construct positional args
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(2);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 1, yarray);
+
+    // construct keyword args
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    for (std::map<std::string, std::string>::const_iterator it =
+            keywords.begin(); it != keywords.end(); ++it) {
+        PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, it->first.c_str(),
+                PyString_FromString(it->second.c_str()));
+    }
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(
+            detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_stem, args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    if (res)
+        Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template< typename Numeric >
+bool fill_between(const std::vector<Numeric>& x, const std::vector<Numeric>& y1, const std::vector<Numeric>& y2, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& keywords)
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y1.size());
+    assert(x.size() == y2.size());
+
+    // using numpy arrays
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* y1array = get_array(y1);
+    PyObject* y2array = get_array(y2);
+
+    // construct positional args
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 1, y1array);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 2, y2array);
+
+    // construct keyword args
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    for(std::map<std::string, std::string>::const_iterator it = keywords.begin(); it != keywords.end(); ++it)
+    {
+        PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, it->first.c_str(), PyUnicode_FromString(it->second.c_str()));
+    }
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_fill_between, args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template< typename Numeric>
+bool hist(const std::vector<Numeric>& y, long bins=10,std::string color="b", double alpha=1.0)
+{
+
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "bins", PyLong_FromLong(bins));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "color", PyString_FromString(color.c_str()));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "alpha", PyFloat_FromDouble(alpha));
+
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(1);
+
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, yarray);
+
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_hist, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template< typename Numeric>
+bool named_hist(std::string label,const std::vector<Numeric>& y, long bins=10, std::string color="b", double alpha=1.0)
+{
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(label.c_str()));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "bins", PyLong_FromLong(bins));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "color", PyString_FromString(color.c_str()));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "alpha", PyFloat_FromDouble(alpha));
+
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, yarray);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_hist, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool plot(const std::vector<NumericX>& x, const std::vector<NumericY>& y, const std::string& s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_plot, plot_args);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool stem(const std::vector<NumericX>& x, const std::vector<NumericY>& y, const std::string& s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(
+            detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_stem, plot_args);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res)
+        Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool semilogx(const std::vector<NumericX>& x, const std::vector<NumericY>& y, const std::string& s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_semilogx, plot_args);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool semilogy(const std::vector<NumericX>& x, const std::vector<NumericY>& y, const std::string& s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_semilogy, plot_args);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool loglog(const std::vector<NumericX>& x, const std::vector<NumericY>& y, const std::string& s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_loglog, plot_args);
+
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename NumericX, typename NumericY>
+bool errorbar(const std::vector<NumericX> &x, const std::vector<NumericY> &y, const std::vector<NumericX> &yerr, const std::string &s = "")
+{
+    assert(x.size() == y.size());
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+    PyObject* yerrarray = get_array(yerr);
+
+    PyObject *kwargs = PyDict_New();
+
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "yerr", yerrarray);
+
+    PyObject *pystring = PyString_FromString(s.c_str());
+
+    PyObject *plot_args = PyTuple_New(2);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+
+    PyObject *res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_errorbar, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+
+    if (res)
+        Py_DECREF(res);
+    else
+        throw std::runtime_error("Call to errorbar() failed.");
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool named_plot(const std::string& name, const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(name.c_str()));
+
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(2);
+
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_plot, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool named_plot(const std::string& name, const std::vector<Numeric>& x, const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(name.c_str()));
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_plot, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool named_semilogx(const std::string& name, const std::vector<Numeric>& x, const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(name.c_str()));
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_semilogx, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool named_semilogy(const std::string& name, const std::vector<Numeric>& x, const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(name.c_str()));
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_semilogy, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool named_loglog(const std::string& name, const std::vector<Numeric>& x, const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    PyObject* kwargs = PyDict_New();
+    PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "label", PyString_FromString(name.c_str()));
+
+    PyObject* xarray = get_array(x);
+    PyObject* yarray = get_array(y);
+
+    PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, yarray);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_loglog, plot_args, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+    if (res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool plot(const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    std::vector<Numeric> x(y.size());
+    for(size_t i=0; i<x.size(); ++i) x.at(i) = i;
+    return plot(x,y,format);
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+bool stem(const std::vector<Numeric>& y, const std::string& format = "")
+{
+    std::vector<Numeric> x(y.size());
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < x.size(); ++i) x.at(i) = i;
+    return stem(x, y, format);
+}
+
+inline void figure()
+{
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_figure, detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to figure() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void legend()
+{
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_legend, detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to legend() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+void ylim(Numeric left, Numeric right)
+{
+    PyObject* list = PyList_New(2);
+    PyList_SetItem(list, 0, PyFloat_FromDouble(left));
+    PyList_SetItem(list, 1, PyFloat_FromDouble(right));
+
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, list);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_ylim, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to ylim() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+void xlim(Numeric left, Numeric right)
+{
+    PyObject* list = PyList_New(2);
+    PyList_SetItem(list, 0, PyFloat_FromDouble(left));
+    PyList_SetItem(list, 1, PyFloat_FromDouble(right));
+
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, list);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_xlim, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to xlim() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+
+inline double* xlim()
+{
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(0);
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_xlim, args);
+    PyObject* left = PyTuple_GetItem(res,0);
+    PyObject* right = PyTuple_GetItem(res,1);
+
+    double* arr = new double[2];
+    arr[0] = PyFloat_AsDouble(left);
+    arr[1] = PyFloat_AsDouble(right);
+
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to xlim() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+    return arr;
+}
+
+
+inline double* ylim()
+{
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(0);
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_ylim, args);
+    PyObject* left = PyTuple_GetItem(res,0);
+    PyObject* right = PyTuple_GetItem(res,1);
+
+    double* arr = new double[2];
+    arr[0] = PyFloat_AsDouble(left);
+    arr[1] = PyFloat_AsDouble(right);
+
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to ylim() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+    return arr;
+}
+
+inline void subplot(long nrows, long ncols, long plot_number)
+{
+    // construct positional args
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(3);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, PyFloat_FromDouble(nrows));
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 1, PyFloat_FromDouble(ncols));
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 2, PyFloat_FromDouble(plot_number));
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_subplot, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to subplot() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void title(const std::string &titlestr)
+{
+    PyObject* pytitlestr = PyString_FromString(titlestr.c_str());
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, pytitlestr);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_title, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to title() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void axis(const std::string &axisstr)
+{
+    PyObject* str = PyString_FromString(axisstr.c_str());
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, str);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_axis, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to title() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void xlabel(const std::string &str)
+{
+    PyObject* pystr = PyString_FromString(str.c_str());
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, pystr);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_xlabel, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to xlabel() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void ylabel(const std::string &str)
+{
+    PyObject* pystr = PyString_FromString(str.c_str());
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, pystr);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_ylabel, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to ylabel() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void grid(bool flag)
+{
+    PyObject* pyflag = flag ? Py_True : Py_False;
+    Py_INCREF(pyflag);
+
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, pyflag);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_grid, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to grid() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void show(const bool block = true)
+{
+    PyObject* res;
+    if(block)
+    {
+        res = PyObject_CallObject(
+                detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_show,
+                detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        PyObject *kwargs = PyDict_New();
+        PyDict_SetItemString(kwargs, "block", Py_False);
+        res = PyObject_Call( detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_show, detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple, kwargs);
+	Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+    }
+
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to show() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void close()
+{
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(
+            detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_close,
+            detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to close() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void xkcd() {
+    PyObject* res;
+    PyObject *kwargs = PyDict_New();
+
+    res = PyObject_Call(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_xkcd,
+            detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple, kwargs);
+
+    Py_DECREF(kwargs);
+
+    if (!res)
+        throw std::runtime_error("Call to show() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void draw()
+{
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_draw,
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to draw() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+template<typename Numeric>
+inline void pause(Numeric interval)
+{
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, PyFloat_FromDouble(interval));
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_pause, args);
+    if(!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to pause() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void save(const std::string& filename)
+{
+    PyObject* pyfilename = PyString_FromString(filename.c_str());
+
+    PyObject* args = PyTuple_New(1);
+    PyTuple_SetItem(args, 0, pyfilename);
+
+    PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_save, args);
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to save() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(args);
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+inline void clf() {
+    PyObject *res = PyObject_CallObject(
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_clf,
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to clf() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+    inline void ion() {
+    PyObject *res = PyObject_CallObject(
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_ion,
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to ion() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+// Actually, is there any reason not to call this automatically for every plot?
+inline void tight_layout() {
+    PyObject *res = PyObject_CallObject(
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_tight_layout,
+        detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_empty_tuple);
+
+    if (!res) throw std::runtime_error("Call to tight_layout() failed.");
+
+    Py_DECREF(res);
+}
+
+#if __cplusplus > 199711L || _MSC_VER > 1800
+// C++11-exclusive content starts here (variadic plot() and initializer list support)
+
+namespace detail {
+
+template<typename T>
+using is_function = typename std::is_function<std::remove_pointer<std::remove_reference<T>>>::type;
+
+template<bool obj, typename T>
+struct is_callable_impl;
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_callable_impl<false, T>
+{
+    typedef is_function<T> type;
+}; // a non-object is callable iff it is a function
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_callable_impl<true, T>
+{
+    struct Fallback { void operator()(); };
+    struct Derived : T, Fallback { };
+
+    template<typename U, U> struct Check;
+
+    template<typename U>
+    static std::true_type test( ... ); // use a variadic function to make sure (1) it accepts everything and (2) its always the worst match
+
+    template<typename U>
+    static std::false_type test( Check<void(Fallback::*)(), &U::operator()>* );
+
+public:
+    typedef decltype(test<Derived>(nullptr)) type;
+    typedef decltype(&Fallback::operator()) dtype;
+    static constexpr bool value = type::value;
+}; // an object is callable iff it defines operator()
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_callable
+{
+    // dispatch to is_callable_impl<true, T> or is_callable_impl<false, T> depending on whether T is of class type or not
+    typedef typename is_callable_impl<std::is_class<T>::value, T>::type type;
+};
+
+template<typename IsYDataCallable>
+struct plot_impl { };
+
+template<>
+struct plot_impl<std::false_type>
+{
+    template<typename IterableX, typename IterableY>
+    bool operator()(const IterableX& x, const IterableY& y, const std::string& format)
+    {
+        // 2-phase lookup for distance, begin, end
+        using std::distance;
+        using std::begin;
+        using std::end;
+
+        auto xs = distance(begin(x), end(x));
+        auto ys = distance(begin(y), end(y));
+        assert(xs == ys && "x and y data must have the same number of elements!");
+
+        PyObject* xlist = PyList_New(xs);
+        PyObject* ylist = PyList_New(ys);
+        PyObject* pystring = PyString_FromString(format.c_str());
+
+        auto itx = begin(x), ity = begin(y);
+        for(size_t i = 0; i < xs; ++i) {
+            PyList_SetItem(xlist, i, PyFloat_FromDouble(*itx++));
+            PyList_SetItem(ylist, i, PyFloat_FromDouble(*ity++));
+        }
+
+        PyObject* plot_args = PyTuple_New(3);
+        PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 0, xlist);
+        PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 1, ylist);
+        PyTuple_SetItem(plot_args, 2, pystring);
+
+        PyObject* res = PyObject_CallObject(detail::_interpreter::get().s_python_function_plot, plot_args);
+
+        Py_DECREF(plot_args);
+        if(res) Py_DECREF(res);
+
+        return res;
+    }
+};
+
+template<>
+struct plot_impl<std::true_type>
+{
+    template<typename Iterable, typename Callable>
+    bool operator()(const Iterable& ticks, const Callable& f, const std::string& format)
+    {
+        if(begin(ticks) == end(ticks)) return true;
+
+        // We could use additional meta-programming to deduce the correct element type of y,
+        // but all values have to be convertible to double anyways
+        std::vector<double> y;
+        for(auto x : ticks) y.push_back(f(x));
+        return plot_impl<std::false_type>()(ticks,y,format);
+    }
+};
+
+} // end namespace detail
+
+// recursion stop for the above
+template<typename... Args>
+bool plot() { return true; }
+
+template<typename A, typename B, typename... Args>
+bool plot(const A& a, const B& b, const std::string& format, Args... args)
+{
+    return detail::plot_impl<typename detail::is_callable<B>::type>()(a,b,format) && plot(args...);
+}
+
+/*
+ * This group of plot() functions is needed to support initializer lists, i.e. calling
+ *    plot( {1,2,3,4} )
+ */
+inline bool plot(const std::vector<double>& x, const std::vector<double>& y, const std::string& format = "") {
+    return plot<double,double>(x,y,format);
+}
+
+inline bool plot(const std::vector<double>& y, const std::string& format = "") {
+    return plot<double>(y,format);
+}
+
+inline bool plot(const std::vector<double>& x, const std::vector<double>& y, const std::map<std::string, std::string>& keywords) {
+    return plot<double>(x,y,keywords);
+}
+
+#endif
+
+} // end namespace matplotlibcpp