# From gnuplot to Matplotlib & Pandas

DevFeed: [From gnuplot to Matplotlib & Pandas](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/from-gnuplot-to-matplotlib-pandas-36399.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/from-gnuplot-to-matplotlib-pandas/>)

Published: 2019-04-01T08:59:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Bert Hubert's writings](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/bert-hubert-s-writings.md>)

Topics: [pandas](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/pandas.md>), [plotting](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/plotting.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [CSV](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/csv.md>), [Shell](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/shell.md>)

Tags: [csv](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/csv.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data.md>), [pandas](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pandas.md>), [plotting](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/plotting.md>), [shell](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/shell.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial introduces Matplotlib and Pandas as an alternative to gnuplot for analyzing and plotting system data. It explains how Pandas and Matplotlib keep labeled data and graphing in one programming environment, using vmstat output and CSV files as examples.

## Source excerpt

I've been using gnuplot since.. like forever. It is one of my best friends in plotting data and discovering what is going on. But for all its greatness, you do tend to run into a wall - once you step outside the things gnuplot is good at, suddenly large heaps of awk, sort, unique and odd shell scripts are required to get to the next level. This is no criticism of gnuplot - it is great for what it is for.