ggvis vs Matplotlib

Struggling to choose between ggvis and Matplotlib? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

ggvis is a Data Visualization solution with tags like r, ggplot2, interactive, data-visualization, graphics, web-browser.

It boasts features such as Grammar of Graphics-based visualization using the ggplot2 API, Interactivity through linking graphical elements to data, Built on top of Shiny for reactive programming, Can embed plots in R Markdown documents and Shiny apps, Supports faceting, zooming, panning, etc., Exporting plots to SVG and PNG format and pros including Leverages ggplot2 syntax for easy plotting, Interactivity enables exploration of data, Tight integration with Shiny apps, Can create standalone visualizations to embed in web pages.

On the other hand, Matplotlib is a Photos & Graphics product tagged with plotting, graphs, charts, visualization, python.

Its standout features include 2D plotting, Publication quality output, Support for many plot types (line, bar, scatter, histogram etc), Extensive customization options, IPython/Jupyter notebook integration, Animations and interactivity, LaTeX support for mathematical typesetting, and it shines with pros like Mature and feature-rich, Large user community and extensive documentation, Highly customizable, Integrates well with NumPy, Pandas and SciPy, Output can be saved to many file formats.

Feature	ggvis	Matplotlib
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Data Visualization	Photos & Graphics

Product Overview

ggvis

Description: ggvis is an R package for creating interactive data visualizations and graphics in a web browser. It builds on the popular ggplot2 package but allows users to add interactivity, make visualizations reusable, and embed them in web pages.

Matplotlib

Description: Matplotlib is a comprehensive 2D plotting library for Python that allows users to create a wide variety of publication-quality graphs, charts, and visualizations. It integrates well with NumPy and Pandas data structures.

Key Features Comparison

ggvis Features

• Grammar of Graphics-based visualization using the ggplot2 API
• Interactivity through linking graphical elements to data
• Built on top of Shiny for reactive programming
• Can embed plots in R Markdown documents and Shiny apps
• Supports faceting, zooming, panning, etc.
• Exporting plots to SVG and PNG format

Matplotlib Features

• 2D plotting
• Publication quality output
• Support for many plot types (line, bar, scatter, histogram etc)
• Extensive customization options
• IPython/Jupyter notebook integration
• Animations and interactivity
• LaTeX support for mathematical typesetting

Pros & Cons Analysis

ggvis

Pros

• Leverages ggplot2 syntax for easy plotting
• Interactivity enables exploration of data
• Tight integration with Shiny apps
• Can create standalone visualizations to embed in web pages

Cons

• Limited adoption compared to static ggplot2
• Interactivity requires knowledge of reactivity in Shiny
• Less customizable than D3.js for web-based graphics

Matplotlib

Pros

• Mature and feature-rich
• Large user community and extensive documentation
• Highly customizable
• Integrates well with NumPy, Pandas and SciPy
• Output can be saved to many file formats

Cons

• Steep learning curve
• Plotting code can be verbose
• 3D plotting support is limited
• Cannot do web visualization (unlike Bokeh or Plotly)

Pricing Comparison

ggvis

• Open Source

Matplotlib

• Open Source