I agree with the basic premise: matplotlib is sort of lousy to use, and annoying to learn, but it works and does everything you might need. There’s something to say about software that solves a problem
I just went through this process myself (http://kachess.k2company.com) and this outline would have been SO helpful. I learned these points the slow, hard way.
(And while it doesn't suck, it's certainly not fun and intuitive.)