Is there any 'out-of-the-box' 2D/3D plotting library for C++?

Question

I looked at the different options for plotting functions (or other types of graphs) in an interactive window. I mostly use wxWidgets but I'd be open to any other "interfaces".

Looking at what is available, here is what I've found:

wxPlot: Not updated since 2006. But it would be a good candidate if it was...

wxMathPlot: Very new, not mature, few features (still active?)

libgraph: Outdated, not rebust, 2D only and outputs images only.

koolplot: Too basic, no control over the created window.

EasyBMP: Very basic, only images output.

plotutils: Command line only.

plplot: C and C++ API are barely maintained. It is in fact on this that wxPlot is based. Could be a could candidate also if C and C++ interface we're updated.

Any comments? Ideas?

Thanks!

score 27 · Answer 1 · answered May 13 '14 at 09:21

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Even though this thread is old but gold. QCustomPlot is very recommendable as well to complement this list.

answered May 13 '14 at 09:21

Sharky Bamboozle

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score 15 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:42

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MathGL have many plot types, C/Fortran interface and basic data analysis

answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:42

abalakin

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score 10 · Answer 3 · answered May 19 '09 at 20:57

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I'm all about ROOT for these needs. Pretty heavy if you don't need all the analysis support, though.

answered May 19 '09 at 20:57

dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten

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I know this is an old comment, but thank you for pointing out ROOT. I hadn't heard about it and it will be very useful! – Alex Hirzel Feb 28 '15 at 12:31
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I really hate to see good libraries released under GNU, this literally makes it useless. – metablaster Jun 07 '20 at 02:26
@metablaster I know and have used ROOT and TMVA extensively in my time and they are very convenient given you use nix-based system. Ever since I moved on to windows, I can barely build it, let alone compile any of my own codes. It doesn't really matter because I don't work with CERN but every so often I just miss the convenience. – Mar 28 '21 at 15:36

score 9 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:46

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You have Qwt which is mature. There is a 3D version lurking somewhere. However, I have never been satisfied with the aesthetic result.

It may be worth waiting for Qt3D to come out to write something better yourself easily.

answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:46

Alexandre C.

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score 6 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 24 '08 at 10:36

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I programmatically provide required input files to GNUPlot executable and invoke it using system() function. It is suitable to my situation since I only want to visualize my data during research. But if you want the plotting functionality integrated into your executable file, maybe this is not for you :)

answered Dec 24 '08 at 10:36

Gant

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Have a look at Gnuplot iostream: a single header library giving intuitive access to the Gnuplot functionalities directly from your C++ code. I love it! – DarioP Jan 14 '16 at 10:30

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 24 '11 at 08:36

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u can use DISLIN

it is quite neat!

answered Mar 24 '11 at 08:36

KansaiRobot

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They require payment for library. – metablaster Jun 07 '20 at 02:42

score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Nov 17 '08 at 18:50

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Might wxChart be an option? I have not used it myself however and it looks like it hasnt been updated for a while.

answered Nov 17 '08 at 18:50

SteveL

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score 3 · Answer 8 · answered Nov 17 '08 at 19:11

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Just an idea: Use Python as embeddable scripting language to plot your graphs. Python has a plethora of plotting libraries.

answered Nov 17 '08 at 19:11

jfs

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If you don't mind embedding a Python interpreter you get a whole lot of other benefits from having a scripting lanaguage in your application, plus access to the sort of libraries you've linked to. +1 – ConcernedOfTunbridgeWells Dec 24 '08 at 10:25
if compared to *writing data to files and using system call to run py scripts*, which is more convenient and faster? – zhangxaochen Jun 20 '16 at 12:41
@zhangxaochen it depends on what you are doing. – jfs Jun 20 '16 at 12:47

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 17 '08 at 20:28

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I found the game library Allegro easy to use back in the day. Might be worth a look.

answered Nov 17 '08 at 20:28

Kev

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score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Nov 18 '08 at 23:23

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We use an ancient version of ComponentOne Chart.

answered Nov 18 '08 at 23:23

John Dibling

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score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Nov 19 '08 at 10:44

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AntiGrain Geometry (AGG). http://www.antigrain.com/. Its an opensource 2D vector graphics library. Its a standalone library with no additional dependencies. Has good documentation. Python plotting library matplotlib uses AGG as one of backends.

answered Nov 19 '08 at 10:44

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AGG is a rendering engine, not a plotting library. Using it for plotting would require re-implementing matplotlib on top of it. – Thelema Apr 16 '13 at 22:38

score 1 · Answer 12 · answered Dec 13 '08 at 12:39

Have a look at wxArt2d it is a complete framework for 2d editing and plotting. See the screenshots for more examples.

Some interesting features:

Reading and writing SVG and CVG
Several views of the same document
Changes are updated when idle
Optimized drawing of 2d objects

score 1 · Answer 13 · answered Dec 24 '08 at 10:19

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Hey! I'm the developer of wxMathPlot! The project is active: I just took a long time to get a new release, because the code needed a partial rewriting to introduce new features. Take a look to the new 0.1.0 release: it is a great improvement from old versions. Anyway, it doesn't provide 3D (even if I always thinking about it...).

answered Dec 24 '08 at 10:19

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is it able to plot in "real time"? (or near real time)? To be clear - I want to be able to update from a data source and draw as new points arrive. – Tim Sep 30 '09 at 20:48

score -2 · Answer 14 · answered Nov 17 '08 at 20:08

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OpenGL. It WILL be hard and possibly rewriting the wheel, though. Keep in mind that OpenGL is a general 3D library, and not a specific plot library, but you can implement plotting based on it.

answered Nov 17 '08 at 20:08

luiscubal

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Downvoted because I dont think recommending to roll your own on a library recommendation question is not actually answering it. – antipattern Nov 12 '15 at 15:08

Is there any 'out-of-the-box' 2D/3D plotting library for C++?

Looking at what is available, here is what I've found:

14 Answers14

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