ScatterGL Project Introduction
ScatterGL is an interactive 3D and 2D renderer designed specifically for creating and visualizing scatter plots on the web. It's built using WebGL, which means it's highly optimized for performance, capable of handling tens of thousands of points smoothly. This technology makes it ideal for applications such as data visualization, scientific analysis, and interactive displays.
Basic Features and Usage
ScatterGL is primarily designed to make it easy for developers to render scatter plots. Here's a simple example of how it's used:
// 'points' is an array of 2D or 3D points represented as numerical arrays.
const dataset = new ScatterGL.Dataset(points);
const scatterGL = new ScatterGL(containerElement);
scatterGL.render(dataset);
With just a few lines of code, developers can render complex visual data onto any webpage element, transforming mundane datasets into compelling, interactive visuals.
Installation
Installing ScatterGL is straightforward, whether you prefer using package managers like Yarn or NPM, or directly linking from a CDN.
Via Yarn or NPM
yarn add scatter-gl
Via CDN
To include ScatterGL via a CDN, first load the necessary library:
<!-- Include the core Three.js library -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/build/three.min.js"></script>
<!-- Include ScatterGL -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/lib/scatter-gl.min.js"></script>
Parameter Customization
ScatterGL allows developers to customize various parameters through a ScatterGLParams object. Some key configurable parameters include:
- camera: Adjusts the camera's initial settings, such as zoom and position.
- onClick, onHover, onSelect: Customize callbacks for interactions with points.
- pointColorer: Define custom coloring for points.
- renderMode: Choose from different render styles like POINT, SPRITE, or TEXT.
- showLabelsOnHover: Decide whether labels appear when points are hovered over.
Methods for Advanced Control
ScatterGL provides several methods for fine-tuning your scatter plots:
- isOrbiting(): Check if the plot is currently in orbit animation mode.
- render(dataset: Dataset): Render the dataset in the target container.
- select(pointIndices: number[]): Focus on specific points by their index.
- startOrbitAnimation() / stopOrbitAnimation(): Control the rotation animation of the plot.
These methods enable developers to build interactive and dynamic visual experiences with ease.
Styling and Customization
For those looking to personalize the appearance of their scatter plots, ScatterGL supports custom styling through a Styles object. This allows you to tweak colors, sizes, and other visual settings to match your project's aesthetic.
Development and Contribution
Developers can get started quickly with ScatterGL by using the following commands for setting up the environment and running demos:
yarn
yarn demo
This setup showcases how to handle advanced rendering techniques such as interaction management and custom point coloring.
Conclusion
ScatterGL opens up possibilities for creating innovative and interactive visualizations. It's not an officially supported Google product, but its integration of WebGL with a robust API makes it a powerful tool for developers looking to push the boundaries of what's possible with web-based data visualization.