Pros of Chart.js

• More active development and larger community support
• Responsive and mobile-friendly out of the box
• Extensive documentation and examples

Cons of Chart.js

• Larger file size, which may impact page load times
• Less customization options for advanced use cases

Code Comparison

Flotr2:

var container = document.getElementById('chart');
var data = [[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3], [3, 4]];
Flotr.draw(container, [data], {
  title: 'Simple Line Chart'
});

Chart.js:

var ctx = document.getElementById('chart').getContext('2d');
var chart = new Chart(ctx, {
  type: 'line',
  data: {
    labels: [0, 1, 2, 3],
    datasets: [{
      data: [1, 2, 3, 4]
    }]
  },
  options: {
    title: {
      text: 'Simple Line Chart'
    }
  }
});

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to create charts, but Chart.js uses a more object-oriented approach with configuration options. Flotr2's syntax is more compact, while Chart.js provides a more structured and extensible setup. Chart.js also includes built-in responsiveness and animation features, which may require additional configuration in Flotr2.

Pros of d3

• More powerful and flexible for creating complex, interactive visualizations
• Larger community and ecosystem with extensive documentation and examples
• Better performance for handling large datasets and dynamic updates

Cons of d3

• Steeper learning curve due to its low-level approach
• Requires more code to create basic charts compared to Flotr2
• Less out-of-the-box chart types, often requiring custom implementations

Code Comparison

Flotr2 (basic line chart):

Flotr.draw(container, [
  { data: [[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3]], label: 'Line 1' }
], {
  title: 'Basic Line Chart'
});

d3 (basic line chart):

const line = d3.line()
  .x(d => x(d[0]))
  .y(d => y(d[1]));

svg.append("path")
  .datum([[0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3]])
  .attr("d", line);

While Flotr2 provides a simpler API for basic charts, d3 offers more control and flexibility for custom visualizations. d3's approach allows for fine-grained manipulation of SVG elements, enabling complex, interactive graphics. However, this power comes at the cost of a steeper learning curve and more verbose code for simple charts.

Pros of plotly.js

• More extensive and diverse chart types, including 3D plots and statistical charts
• Active development with frequent updates and a large community
• Comprehensive documentation and examples

Cons of plotly.js

• Larger file size, which may impact page load times
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Some advanced features require a commercial license

Code Comparison

Flotr2:

var container = document.getElementById('chart');
var data = [[0, 1, 2, 3, 4], [3, 5, 1, 7, 2]];
var graph = Flotr.draw(container, data, {
  title: 'Simple Line Chart'
});

plotly.js:

var data = [{x: [0, 1, 2, 3, 4], y: [3, 5, 1, 7, 2], type: 'scatter'}];
var layout = {title: 'Simple Line Chart'};
Plotly.newPlot('chart', data, layout);

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to create basic charts, but plotly.js provides more customization options and a more modern syntax. Flotr2 is lighter and simpler, making it easier to get started with basic charts, while plotly.js offers more advanced features and interactivity out of the box.

Pros of Highcharts

• More extensive documentation and examples
• Wider range of chart types and customization options
• Active development and regular updates

Cons of Highcharts

• Commercial license required for most use cases
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Larger file size, potentially impacting page load times

Code Comparison

Flotr2:

var container = document.getElementById('chart');
var data = [[0, 3], [4, 8], [8, 5], [9, 13]];
Flotr.draw(container, [data], {
  title: 'My Chart'
});

Highcharts:

Highcharts.chart('container', {
  title: { text: 'My Chart' },
  series: [{
    data: [3, 8, 5, 13]
  }]
});

Both libraries offer straightforward ways to create basic charts, but Highcharts provides more built-in options for customization. Flotr2 uses a simpler API, while Highcharts has a more structured approach to chart configuration.

Flotr2 is lightweight and open-source, making it suitable for simple charting needs or projects with licensing constraints. Highcharts, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive solution with extensive features and ongoing support, but requires a commercial license for most use cases.