[pdonis]

> the 20k syscalls is for the import call

Yes, because you're importing a library that does a lot more than just print a plot. A purpose-built Python program that just printed the plot, nothing else, would need a lot less than 20k syscalls too.

[t8sr]

You're missing the point - importing a module in other languages takes ~100x fewer system calls. It's a rare example of Python doing something that's mostly written in pure Python, rather than invoked via an FFI, and it shows some of the inefficiency of the language laid bare. That makes it an interesting case to study.

(Of course an import call in Python does a lot more, but the end result is roughly the same as calling `dlopen` in, e.g., Swift.)