Create Matplotlib visualizations from the command-line
I do lots of data analyses in the command-line and I was missing a simple utility to plot the output of a command (without having to script it). I like very much the Matplotlib API but I found no CLI to pipe data into it. So, I wrote MatplotCLI, a simple CLI that reads data from the stdin and allows to easily create interactive plots from the command-line. Have a look at the README for examples and recipes. Let me know what you think, thanks! Some examples: $ plt "hist(x,30)" < sample.json $ cat sample.json | plt --no-show "hist(x,30); savefig('myimage.png')" $ plt --no-input " x =…
In plain words
MatplotCLI is a command-line tool that creates Matplotlib visualizations by reading data from standard input. It lets data analysts pipe command output directly into plots without writing scripts, using familiar Matplotlib syntax. The tool accepts JSON data and supports interactive plotting, image export, and NumPy operations. It's designed for users who work frequently in the terminal and want quick, scriptless visualization of their analyses.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
I do lots of data analyses in the command-line and I was missing a simple utility to plot the output of a command (without having to script it). I like very much the Matplotlib API but I found no CLI to pipe data into it. So, I wrote MatplotCLI, a simple CLI that reads data from the stdin and allows to easily create interactive plots from the command-line. Have a look at the README for examples and recipes. Let me know what you think, thanks! Some examples: $ plt "hist(x,30)" < sample.json $ cat sample.json | plt --no-show "hist(x,30); savefig('myimage.png')" $ plt --no-input " x = np.linspace(-1,1,2000); y = x*np.sin(1/x); plot(x,y); axis('scaled'); grid(True)" $ echo ' {"a":0, "b":1} {"a":1, "b":0} {"a":3, "b":3}' | plt "plot(a,b)"
More dev tools this month
the category →
Open-source GTM skills for technical founders
Dev tools · 29d ago · gtmcofounder.com
OpenTrailPaper is open-source bike computer firmware for the LilyGO T5S3 4.7" E-Paper PRO. It supports offline maps, GPX routes, FIT recording and Bluetooth sensors.
Dev tools · 1d ago · opentrailpaper.com
Launched alongside, March 2022
the whole month →- IM
Hi HN! I made many small web games in the past with Unity or Phaser. But this time I wanted to make something completely on my own. So I coded a basic game framework in plain JavaScript, and used it to make Almost Pong. This was a really fun project that taught me a lot about JavaScript, and I plan to make more minimalist games with this framework. Interesting fact: Almost Pong doesn't load any assets, all sprites and sounds are generated with code. Happy to answer questions, and please let me know if you have any feedback on the game. Thanks!
Dev tools · 2022 · lessmilk.com
- IM
Life & fun · 2022 · networksfromscratch.com
- HA
Paste the following into the console of any HN page - for annotated avatars on all HN comments. (self contained code) for(u of document.querySelectorAll('.hnuser'))for(u.prepend(c=document.createElement('canvas')),x=c.getContext('2d'),c.width=18,c.height=14,s=u.innerText,r=1,i=28+s.length;i--;i>>29>X*X/3+Y/2&&x.fillRect(6+2*X,2*Y,2,2)&x.fillRect(6-2*X,2*Y,2,2):r+=s.charCodeAt(i-28,x.fillStyle='#'+(r>>8&0xFFFFFF).toString(16)))r^=r>>17,r^=r>2
Dev tools · 2022
- AG
Life & fun · 2022 · backofyourhand.com