POC + WIP: Track current PyGMT figure to avoid calling the figure module repeatly

pygmt/_state.py

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+"""
+Private dictionary to keep tracking of current PyGMT state.
+
+The feature is only meant for internal use by PyGMT and is experimental!
+"""
+
+_STATE = {
+    "current_figure": None,
+}

pygmt/figure.py

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 from typing import Literal
 
+from pygmt._state import _STATE
+
 try:
     import IPython
 
@@ -123,16 +125,23 @@ def _activate_figure(self):
 
         All plotting commands run afterward will append to this figure.
 
-        Unlike the command-line version (``gmt figure``), this method does not
-        trigger the generation of a figure file. An explicit call to
-        :meth:`pygmt.Figure.savefig` or :meth:`pygmt.Figure.psconvert` must be
-        made in order to get a file.
+        Unlike the command-line version (``gmt figure``), this method does not trigger
+        the generation of a figure file. An explicit call to
+        :meth:`pygmt.Figure.savefig` or :meth:`pygmt.Figure.psconvert` must be made in
+        order to get a file.
         """
-        # Passing format '-' tells pygmt.end to not produce any files.
-        fmt = "-"
+        # Activate the figure only if it's not already activated
+        if _STATE["current_figure"] == self._name:
+            return
+
         with Session() as lib:
+            # Passing format '-' tells pygmt.end to not produce any files.
+            fmt = "-"
             lib.call_module(module="figure", args=[self._name, fmt])
 
+        # Track the current activated figure name
+        _STATE["current_figure"] = self._name
+
     def _preprocess(self, **kwargs):
         """
         Call the ``figure`` module before each plotting command to ensure we're plotting