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matplotlib is very flexible and has a wide array of plot types. It's great for quickly making plots of some data in Python. But IMO the output is not really nic

matplotlib is very flexible and has a wide array of plot types. It's great for quickly making plots of some data in Python. But IMO the output is not really nice to look at, it takes a lot of customization to make the plots publication-quality, and it feels kind if clunky for making interactive plots (however, some animation support was added recently, I haven't looked at that in deail yet). The screenshots of protovis/d3 look very promising, I'll have a look at it. The last time I needed a JS charting library I went with Highcharts, as it had somewhat better support for the run-of-the-mill chart types I was using in my project.

tel 15y ago
Matplotlib is ok for a first plot during exploratory analysis, but is a far, far cry from the facilities available in R through base graphics, grid graphics, trellis graphics, or ggplot2. Protovis/d3 take a different approach, also focused on a similar Grammar of Graphics like ggplot but primarily concerned about the tooling, instead of the application. Tooling level libraries are nice because they tend to be flexible enough for high data ink ratios, unlike highcharts, which turns me away with every example.
- pwang 15y ago
  Your choice of terms is very interesting! I would say that Protovis and d3 do not take a Grammar of Graphics approach per se; rather, they tackle mostly just the lowest level of the grammar, namely aesthetic composition and some transforms. ggplot is very nice for the kinds of datasets that people use R for, but it's only one part of the story. For large dataset and interactive visualization in Python, take a look at Chaco: http://code.enthought.com/chaco http://code.enthought.com/chaco
  - tel 15y ago
    You're right to point that out. I abused the term. The real thing I think ggplot and protovis/d3 share, and the fundamental thing that makes them powerful and interesting, is the declarative nature of those DSLs. GoG is quite a bit more on top of declarative syntax, but, while I really enjoy Hadley's work, I don't think it's the end all be all in declarative graphing DSLs.

tel 15y ago

Matplotlib is ok for a first plot during exploratory analysis, but is a far, far cry from the facilities available in R through base graphics, grid graphics, trellis graphics, or ggplot2. Protovis/d3 take a different approach, also focused on a similar Grammar of Graphics like ggplot but primarily concerned about the tooling, instead of the application. Tooling level libraries are nice because they tend to be flexible enough for high data ink ratios, unlike highcharts, which turns me away with every example.

pwang 15y ago
Your choice of terms is very interesting! I would say that Protovis and d3 do not take a Grammar of Graphics approach per se; rather, they tackle mostly just the lowest level of the grammar, namely aesthetic composition and some transforms. ggplot is very nice for the kinds of datasets that people use R for, but it's only one part of the story. For large dataset and interactive visualization in Python, take a look at Chaco: http://code.enthought.com/chaco http://code.enthought.com/chaco
- tel 15y ago
  You're right to point that out. I abused the term. The real thing I think ggplot and protovis/d3 share, and the fundamental thing that makes them powerful and interesting, is the declarative nature of those DSLs. GoG is quite a bit more on top of declarative syntax, but, while I really enjoy Hadley's work, I don't think it's the end all be all in declarative graphing DSLs.