1. What Is NPlot?
NPlot is a free, open-source plotting and charting library written in C# for the .NET framework. It allows developers to generate 2D charts, graphs, and visual data representations within Windows Forms and ASP.NET applications.
Originally developed by Colin Green, NPlot was designed to be a lightweight alternative to commercial charting tools like Microsoft Chart Controls or Telerik Charts. It offers ease of integration, extensibility, and full source access, making it an excellent choice for students, researchers, and developers working on scientific or financial visualization projects.
2. Key Features of NPlot
NPlot offers a surprisingly rich feature set for such a compact library:
- Multiple Chart Types: Supports line graphs, scatter plots, bar charts, step lines, markers, histograms, and pie charts.
- Customizable Axes: Easily modify linear, logarithmic, or date-time axes for accurate scaling and readability.
- Interactive Elements: Provides zooming, panning, and data highlighting features for user interactivity.
- Cross-Platform Support: Works across Windows Forms, Mono, and GTK#, making it adaptable for Linux and cross-platform .NET apps.
- Export Options: Charts can be saved as PNG, JPEG, SVG, or PostScript images for easy sharing or report embedding.
- Lightweight Codebase: At only a few hundred kilobytes, NPlot keeps your project fast and efficient.
Developers often praise its balance between simplicity and control, allowing them to produce professional-looking visuals without a steep learning curve.
3. How to Install and Set Up NPlot
Setting up NPlot in your project is straightforward.
Step 1: Download the Library
You can obtain the source or pre-compiled binaries from GitHub or older SourceForge repositories.
Example:
Step 2: Add Reference
In Visual Studio, right-click your project → Add Reference → Browse → select NPlot.dll.
Step 3: Add a Plot Surface
Create a chart using Windows Forms:
Step 4: Populate Data
Once compiled, you’ll see a clean, interactive chart displayed in your app window.
4. Advantages of Using NPlot
The main advantage of NPlot is its open-source flexibility combined with a small footprint. Developers benefit from:
- Free Licensing: Completely open under permissive terms—ideal for academic or commercial use.
- Full Customization: Modify drawing logic or extend plot types without dependency on proprietary APIs.
- Performance Efficiency: Handles thousands of data points smoothly on typical hardware.
- Integration Ease: Works seamlessly with WinForms, WPF (via interop), and web apps built on ASP.NET.
- Active Community Forks: Even though the core library is mature, community developers have maintained updated forks that integrate with .NET 6+ and CoreCLR.
Because it’s transparent and extendable, many engineers use NPlot as a base engine for larger visualization platforms or internal dashboards.
5. NPlot Alternatives and Competitors
While NPlot is a capable tool, comparing it with competitors helps clarify when it’s the best fit:
| Library | Language | License | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| OxyPlot | C# (.NET) | MIT | Modern, supports WPF, Xamarin, and MAUI |
| ScottPlot | C# (.NET) | MIT | Fast rendering, active development |
| ZedGraph | C# (.NET) | LGPL | Older but highly customizable |
| Matplotlib | Python | BSD | Excellent for scientific use (non-.NET) |
Choose NPlot when you need simple, embedded charts in desktop applications without additional dependencies. For mobile or cross-device visualization, newer frameworks like OxyPlot might be better.
6. The Future of NPlot and Final Thoughts
Although NPlot is a mature library, it remains relevant due to its stability, compactness, and open nature. Developers have successfully ported it to .NET Core and .NET 8, ensuring it stays compatible with modern environments.
The library continues to inspire educational projects, scientific simulations, and business dashboards where performance and simplicity matter. Its architecture—rooted in classic object-oriented design—makes it an excellent resource for learning data visualization principles in C#.
In summary, NPlot stands as a reliable, time-tested library that empowers developers to visualize complex data effortlessly, maintaining a perfect balance between functionality and minimalism.
