Java Chart Lib (with good documentation)

Question

I'm currently using a self-coded bar chart implementation with Java (swift), which worked fine up until now. But as my project grows, so do my requirements… As a result, I would like to start using a Java library that offers more chart formats than my own implementation.

What I need:

• bar charts
• pie charts
• scatter plots

and, last but not least

• good documentation

Looking around on the internet, I did find JFreeChart – but something tells me it might not be the only option out there, and I surely don't want to make the mistake of picking what I find first, if there is something more recommendable out there.

Which Java library (or libraries) would you recommend for charts?

Answer 1

Here are 2 more pointers to lists of charting libraries:

• Charting libraries used as charting engines in various contributed Drupal modules (disclosure: I'm the original author of this page).

• The question about "Graph visualization library in Javascript", which includes many links to charting libraries also.

Up to you to further investigate which of these libraries might possibly be considered as a valid alternative in your case. While investigating, make sure to also consider the actual license (open source, commercial, etc) for those libraries.

Answer 2

Vaadin

Inside a Vaadin web app, I have found the Vaadin Charts add-on very useful. While open-source, this tool is a commercial product requiring a fee.

Vaadin Charts meets your requirements, but is only relevant for use inside of Vaadin-based web app.

Vaadin is a server-side tool for writing a web app in pure Java on the server-side. Then Vaadin automatically generates HTML/CSS/JavaScript to render your app on the client-side in the web browser.

HighCharts (JavaScript)

That Vaadin Charts product is built on top of the HighCharts library written in JavaScript. This too is a commercial product requiring a fee.

This might be useful to you if there were some way to [A] run JavaScript within your app for live interactive charts, or [B] run JavaScript in the background to generate static images.