datafist
is an in-browser tool for visually exploring your data.
it is awesome because it is
- visual: instead of memorizing Excel functions or R commands, you use a visual editor to build visualizations of your data, which then show up instantly;
- lightweight: it runs right in your browser, with no server or separate hosting required;
- open-source: you can clone this repo and try it out, or test it via the demo link below.
under the covers, datafist uses
- d3.js for visualization;
- mootools for other general JavaScript-y goodness; and
- the HTML5 File API to import data.
inspiration for datafist came from
- AudioMulch, an awesome graphical audio synthesis tool;
- PureData and Max/MSP, both powerful visual languages for signal processing;
- Direct Manipulation Interfaces, a classic paper on the design of intuitive interfaces; and
- FAKEGRIMLOCK, a fountain of poorly-Englished wisdom on entrepreneurship.