I second Python+Matplotlib and toss in another notion: animation. With Matplotlib you can generate a plot, save it as a .png file, step to the next plot, save i

I second Python+Matplotlib and toss in another notion: animation. With Matplotlib you can generate a plot, save it as a .png file, step to the next plot, save it, etc. all unattended. Then combine your plots into a movie file using one of many programs designed to do just that and presto! your own movie. I've done this on occasion and with success. When it fits, animation works wonders. And when it doesn't, look for "duck" in Tufte.