plotutils ☆

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Description:
C/C++ function library for exporting 2-D vector graphics

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: graphics plotting vector-graphics visualization c-library gnu

Install: brew install plotutils

About:
Plotutils is a powerful C/C++ function library for exporting 2-D vector graphics in various formats. It provides a device-independent API that supports rendering to PS, PNG, SVG, and X11 windows. The library's main value is enabling developers to generate publication-quality graphics programmatically without requiring a display server.

Key Features:

Supports multiple output formats including PostScript, PNG, SVG, and X11
Device-independent API for portable graphics code
Includes command-line tools for plotting and image manipulation
Implements high-quality anti-aliased rendering
Comprehensive support for mathematical plotting functions

Use Cases:

Generating scientific plots and charts for publications
Creating server-side rendered graphics for web applications
Building cross-platform visualization tools
Converting mathematical functions to visual output

Alternatives:

Cairo – More modern, widely adopted, but Plotutils is lighter and more specialized for plotting
Gnuplot – Interactive plotting tool vs. library approach; Plotutils provides programmatic API
libplot – Part of Plotutils itself, provides the core plotting functions

Version History

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