Why is there so much noise in d3?

Question

Sorry if this question is considered trivial, but I lost a little:

Why is there so much discussion and effort when working with d3 to visualize data?

In python, we have matplotlib (MPL). It could be so much. Especially for publishing finished graphics (PS, PDF)?

Or is the goal of these new initiatives trying to achieve web visualization and interactivity, only?

And how is the issue of creating a report solved (for example, preparing a report for printing)?

eg. I have a website with a panel for graphics. I zoom in, retrieve data, etc. How to save a figure with a data table behind a report? IMHO, it's easy to achieve with the "old" MPL method.

Thanks in advance for clarification and tips on this hot topic.

Answer 1

I assume that there really is no objective answer to this question, so this is my opinion.

Goal:

In my workflow, I see d3 as a way to make data analysis more “accessible” in two ways. Firstly, it works in a browser, so it is platform independent and requires no special software. Secondly, visualization can make datasets more understandable for non-analysts, especially because of the potential for interactivity and the fact that you can create a nice "friendly" web interface.

The second reason I think d3 might be preferable to other tools is flexibility. My experience with statistical packages (admittedly, I have not used Matlab) is that if you want to create a custom visualization from scratch, then this is hard to do.

Conversely, d3 allows you to go straight to the details exactly where the vector shapes are located, and provides an intuitive and quick way to control all of this and associate it with your data set.

However, if you want to generate “standard” charts, then other tools can be simpler and faster. For example, my Mathematica experience is that it offers incredible interactive features that often require a little more than adding [] manipulations around your code. However, to some extent this depends on the “pre-packaged” schedules.

Reporting:

d3 is not suitable for reporting, but it is not so bad .. svg files can be opened in vector graphics programs such as Adobe Illustrator, so you can export diagrams created in d3 to pdf or any other format of your choice.