# plotnine 22 Hacker News commenters recommended plotnine and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** A Python port of ggplot2's grammar of graphics, liked by people who know ggplot. One critic objects to using the '+' operator to build plots. ## Why people recommend it - Ggplot-style grammar of graphics (6 comments): "Seaborn, altair, plotnine all take ggplot's GoG and bring it to Python and I'm really grateful for that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46067873)) "the grammar-of-graphics libraries — Altair, plotnine — may be the better tool for many people" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48645925)) "If you want the admittedly very thoughtful design of ggplot in Python, use plotnine" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46051391)) - Natural, structured plot description (2 comments): "it's much more natural way of describing plots, better composition and easier exploration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48643556)) "Its more a DSL with a structure rather than a jumble of API arguments." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48646237)) - Among the best Python plotting libraries (2 comments): "One of the best things to happen recently in data science is the plotnine library" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46123523)) "This is definitely one of the better Python plotting libraries out there" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48651323)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [ChartGPU](https://hackerapproved.com/p/chartgpu.md): 35 recommend - [ggplot2](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ggplot2.md): 29 recommend - [ggsql](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ggsql.md): 19 recommend - [Matplotlib](https://hackerapproved.com/p/matplotlib.md): 17 recommend - [Flint visualization language](https://hackerapproved.com/p/flint.md): 15 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "plotnine", https://hackerapproved.com/p/plotnine/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).