Websites using Jqplot

Okay, let s break down jqPlot, covering its overview, revenue (or lack thereof, given its open-source nature), alternatives, pricing (again, considering its free status), and customer care (community-driven support).

What is jqPlot?

• Overview: jqPlot is a popular jQuery plugin used to generate beautiful and interactive charts and plots directly in web browsers. It s a client-side library, meaning it runs in the user s browser using JavaScript. It supports a wide variety of chart types, including line charts, bar charts, pie charts, donut charts, and more. jqPlot offers customization options for colors, labels, axes, legends, and other visual elements.
• Key Features:
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility: Designed to work across major web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE).
  • Interactive: Supports tooltips, highlighting, and event handling to make charts more engaging.
  • Customizable: Extensive options to tailor the look and feel of charts.
  • Multiple Chart Types: Supports various chart formats.
  • Easy Integration: Seamlessly integrates with jQuery.
  • Data Handling: Can work with various data formats.
  • Open Source: Released under the MIT License.

Revenue (or Lack Thereof)

• No Direct Revenue: jqPlot is an open-source project. It does not generate direct revenue for its creators or maintainers through licensing fees or subscriptions.
• Funding (Potentially): While not a revenue-generating business, open-source projects like jqPlot sometimes rely on donations, sponsorships, or grants to support development and maintenance. I don t see any active donation buttons on their official sites, however. It s largely maintained by volunteer contributors.

Alternatives to jqPlot

There are many excellent JavaScript charting libraries available, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and priorities. Here s a list with various considerations:

• Commercial/Premium Options:

  • Highcharts: A very popular and feature-rich commercial library. Known for its extensive documentation, support, and wide range of chart types. (Pricing: Requires a license for commercial use)
  • FusionCharts: Another robust commercial charting library with a large selection of chart types and excellent data visualization capabilities. (Pricing: Requires a license for commercial use)
  • AnyChart: A versatile commercial charting library that supports a variety of platforms. (Pricing: Requires a license for commercial use)
  • amCharts: A feature-rich commercial charting library offering a wide array of chart types, maps, and stock charts. (Pricing: Requires a license for commercial use)

• Open-Source Options:

  • Chart.js: A lightweight and simple open-source library that s easy to use and customize. Good for basic charts and a quick learning curve. (License: MIT)
  • D3.js: A powerful and flexible JavaScript library for manipulating the DOM based on data. It is low-level and has a steeper learning curve but allows for highly customized and complex visualizations. (License: BSD)
  • Plotly.js: An open-source JavaScript library that allows you to create interactive, publication-quality graphs online. It s versatile and can be used with other programming languages (Python, R). (License: MIT)
  • ECharts: A free, powerful charting library offering various chart types and customization options. It s great for advanced visualizations and business dashboards. (License: Apache License 2.0)
  • Google Charts: A free web service that provides interactive charts and data visualization tools. Requires an internet connection. (Free)

• Considerations for Choosing Alternatives:

  • Chart Types: Does the library support the specific types of charts you need?
  • Customization: How much control do you have over the appearance and behavior of the charts?
  • Interactivity: Does the library support tooltips, zooming, panning, and other interactive features?
  • Data Handling: How easy is it to integrate the library with your data sources?
  • Performance: How well does the library handle large datasets?
  • Learning Curve: How easy is it to learn and use the library?
  • Licensing: Is the library free for commercial use?
  • Support: Is there good documentation and community support available?

Pricing

• Free: jqPlot is licensed under the MIT License, making it completely free to use for both personal and commercial projects. You can download, modify, and distribute it without any licensing fees.

Customer Care (Support)

• Community-Based: Since jqPlot is open-source and doesn t have a commercial entity behind it, customer care is primarily community-driven.
• Resources:
  • Official Website: The official website (often hard to find as the project is somewhat dormant, try searching on Github) might have some basic documentation and examples.
  • GitHub: The source code repository on GitHub is a key resource. You can find the code, report bugs, and potentially contribute fixes. Check the Issues section for questions and reported problems.
  • Stack Overflow: A great place to search for answers to common jqPlot questions. Chances are someone has encountered and solved the problem you re facing.
  • Online Forums/Communities: Look for general web development or JavaScript forums where people might have experience with jqPlot.
• Limitations: Keep in mind that community support is voluntary and may not be as responsive or comprehensive as commercial support. The project is not actively maintained, so finding help may be difficult and bug fixes are unlikely.

In Summary

jqPlot is a valuable open-source charting library for jQuery. However, its lack of active maintenance and community support makes it important to consider actively maintained alternatives, especially if you are starting a new project. While it is free, the cost of not having good support and the library being outdated can outweigh the benefit. Good luck!