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For random, quick and dirty, ad-hoc plotting tasks my default is GNUPlot[1].

Otherwise I tend to use either Python with matplotlib, or R with ggplot2.

I keep saying I'm going to invest the time to properly learn D3[4] or something similar for doing web-based plotting, but somehow never quite seem to find time to do it. sigh

[1]: http://www.gnuplot.info/

[2]: https://matplotlib.org/

[3]: https://ggplot2.tidyverse.org/

[4]: https://d3js.org/

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This is almost exactly my list, except that I’ve pretty much stopped using gnuplot and mostly use plotnine (the new name for the python port of ggplot2) as a replacement for matplotlib’s interface. Interfaces implementing the grammar of graphics like ggplot2 and plotnine make exploring different plot types and ways to present data.

There is limited support and small community online for Gnuplot. You may find it difficult to fine tune your plot.

There is a detailed PDF manual that explains every feature concisely, you just can't google for the answers.

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