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flint-chart

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🪄 Flint is a visualization language that lets AI agents reliably create expressive, good-looking charts from simple, human-editable chart specs.

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<h1><img src="assets/flint-logo.svg" alt="" width="42" align="absmiddle"> Flint: A Visualization Language for the AI Era</h1>

[![npm: flint-chart](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/flint-chart.svg?label=npm%3A%20flint-chart)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/flint-chart)
[![npm: flint-chart-mcp](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/flint-chart-mcp.svg?label=npm%3A%20flint-chart-mcp)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/flint-chart-mcp)
[![arXiv: 2607.20775](https://img.shields.io/badge/arXiv-2607.20775-b31b1b.svg)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.20775)
[![CI](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/flint-chart/main/LICENSE)

**Please visit:** [**Flint Project Site**](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/) | [**Visual Themes**](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes) | [**MCP Server Guide**](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/mcp) | [**中文主页**](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/zh)

Flint is a visualization intermediate language that lets **AI agents turn
simple, human-editable chart specs into expressive, polished visualizations**.
Rather than requiring agents to hardcode verbose parameters for scales, axes,
spacing, labels, and layout, Flint derives those decisions from a high-level
semantic specification, the data, and an optional visual theme (e.g., New York
Times, Economist, Swiss, and McKinsey). A compact spec compiles to native
[Vega-Lite](https://vega.github.io/vega-lite/),
[ECharts](https://echarts.apache.org/),
[Chart.js](https://www.chartjs.org/),
[Plotly](https://plotly.com/javascript/) specs, or editable Excel charts.

This repo contains two main components:

- **`flint-chart`**: a JavaScript/TypeScript library that compiles the same
  Flint input into Vega-Lite, ECharts, Chart.js, Plotly, or Excel-native output.
- **`flint-chart-mcp`**: an MCP server that lets agents create, validate, and
  render charts directly from a chat or coding environment.

### Try it in your agent

Try Flint with your agent using our hosted MCP server. Clients that support
remote HTTP MCP servers include [GitHub Copilot in VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers)
(`MCP: Add Server` → `HTTP`) and [Claude](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/11175166-get-started-with-custom-connectors-using-remote-mcp)
(`Customize` → `Connectors` → `Add custom connector`). Point either client at:

```text
https://flint.data-formulator.ai/mcp
```

Then ask your agent to find some public data and visualize it, for example:

```text
Go to Yahoo Finance, find today's percentage change for the Magnificent Seven
tech stocks, and compare their performance with Flint in Economist style.
```

For a local MCP server (recommended for large datasets), check the
[MCP Server Guide](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/mcp) for details.

## Features

- **Semantic chart specs.** Flint captures what each field means using 70+
  semantic types such as `Rank`, `Temperature`, `Price`, or `Country`.
- **Automatic layout.** Flint adapts sizing, spacing, labels, marks, and legends
  to the data cardinality, chart design, and canvas constraints.
- **Formal visual themes.** Define layout behavior, semantic presentation, and
  visual identity once, then apply them across a chart library with a preset,
  custom `ThemeSpec`, or inherited theme.
- **Multiple backends.** Compile one input to backend-native output across
  [Vega-Lite](https://vega.github.io/vega-lite/),
  [ECharts](https://echarts.apache.org/),
  [Chart.js](https://www.chartjs.org/),
  [Plotly](https://plotly.com/javascript/), and native Excel charts.
- **Agent-ready chart authoring.** The MCP server gives agents Flint tools and
  chart guidance so they can choose a template, validate it, and open an
  interactive chart view in MCP-capable clients.

## Updates

- **August 12, 2026** — Flint 0.5.1 extends visual themes to the Plotly backend
  and adds Vega-Lite Calendar Heatmap. ([changelog](CHANGELOG.md))
- **August 5, 2026** — Flint 0.5.0 introduces a [formal theme specification](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes)
  that allows designers and users to define a visual system once and apply it
  consistently across an entire chart library. ([v0.5.0](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/releases/tag/0.5.0))
- **July 24, 2026** — Flint 0.4.0 adds 38 Plotly chart types and 18 native,
  editable Excel chart templates. ([v0.4.0](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/releases/tag/0.4.0))
- **July 19, 2026** — Flint 0.3.0 adds dynamic chart widgets that switch chart
  types and edit chart properties in place. ([v0.3.0](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/releases/tag/0.3.0))
- **July 15, 2026** — Flint 0.2.2 added compact dodge modes and grouped violin
  layouts.
- **July 13, 2026** — Flint 0.2.1 improved chart-property validation and backend
  consistency. ([v0.2.1](https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart/releases/tag/0.2.1))

See the [changelog](CHANGELOG.md) for complete release notes.

<img src="docs/figs/compile-demo.png" alt="Flint compiling a compact chart spec into a Vega-Lite spec and rendered heatmap visualization." width="100%">
 
 Flint turns compact chart specs into backend-native specs and rendered visualizations.

## Install

```bash
# Use Flint in your JavaScript/TypeScript codebase
npm install flint-chart

# For agents and MCP clients
npx -y flint-chart-mcp
```

Python package: to be released. The current Python port is a source-only preview in this repo.

## Use Flint As A Library

Every backend accepts the same `ChartAssemblyInput` and returns the target
library's native spec object.

```ts
import { assembleVegaLite } from 'flint-chart';

const spec = assembleVegaLite({
  data: { values: myData },
  semantic_types: { weight: 'Quantity', mpg: 'Quantity', origin: 'Country' },
  chart_spec: {
    chartType: 'Scatter Plot',
    encodings: { x: { field: 'weight' }, y: { field: 'mpg' }, color: { field: 'origin' } },
    baseSize: { width: 400, height: 300 },
  },
});
// → a ready-to-render Vega-Lite spec
```

Swap the backend without changing the input shape:

```ts
import { assembleECharts, assembleChartjs, assemblePlotly, assembleExcel } from 'flint-chart';

const echartsOption = assembleECharts(input);
const chartjsConfig = assembleChartjs(input);
const plotlyFigure = assemblePlotly(input);
const excelArtifact = assembleExcel(input);
```

## Apply Visual Themes

`theme_spec` sits beside `chart_spec`: the chart spec defines what the chart
means, while the theme defines how that meaning is presented. A theme can guide
layout, labels, legends, axes, mark geometry, typography, and color as one
coherent visual system.

Use one of Flint's ten built-in presets:

```ts
const themedSpec = assembleVegaLite({
  ...input,
  theme_spec: 'economist',
});
```

Or inherit a preset and override only the decisions that belong to your brand:

```ts
const brandedSpec = assembleVegaLite({
  ...input,
  theme_spec: {
    extends: 'economist',
    id: 'our-brand',
    ink: {
      series: { single: '#6b3fa0' },
    },
  },
});
```

Nested objects merge; arrays and scalar values replace the inherited value.
ThemeSpec currently affects Vega-Lite output. Compare all presets on the
[theme explorer](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes). See
[Using themes](docs/theme-spec.md) for the complete custom and inherited-theme
reference.

<a href="https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes?theme=economist&amp;layout=banner">
 <img src="docs/figs/flint-theme-economist.png" alt="Twelve charts rendered with Flint's Economist theme." width="100%">
 </a>
 
 Economist — compact editorial graphics with a strong red accent.

<a href="https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes?theme=swiss&amp;layout=banner">
 <img src="docs/figs/flint-theme-swiss.png" alt="Twelve charts rendered with Flint's Swiss theme." width="100%">
 </a>
 
 Swiss — typographic structure, restrained color, and a clear visual grid.

<a href="https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/themes?theme=pop&amp;layout=banner">
 <img src="docs/figs/flint-theme-pop.png" alt="Twelve charts rendered with Flint's Pop theme." width="100%">
 </a>
 
 Pop — bold color, emphatic marks, and playful graphic contrast.

See the [API reference](docs/api-reference.md), backend references for
[Vega-Lite](docs/reference-vegalite.md), [ECharts](docs/reference-echarts.md),
[Chart.js](docs/reference-chartjs.md), [Plotly](docs/reference-plotly.md), and
[Excel](docs/reference-excel.md), plus the
[live editor](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/editor) for more library examples.

## Use Flint As An MCP Server

Install `flint-chart-mcp` as a [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)
server when you want an agent to create charts in the same conversation where
the question starts. It can open an interactive chart view, return static
PNG/SVG output, or produce backend-native chart specs.

For setup, start with the
[Flint MCP project page](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/mcp). It
includes client configuration, usage examples, and links to deeper references.

MCP calls let agents embed rows directly as `data.values`, or read local JSON,
CSV, or TSV files by `data.url`. For agent workflows without MCP,
use the standalone [agent skill](agent-skills/flint-chart-author/SKILL.md).

## Repository overview

```
flint-chart/
├── packages/
│   ├── flint-js/            npm package `flint-chart` (TypeScript)
│   │   └── src/
│   │       ├── core/        semantics, themes, layout, decisions, shared types
│   │       ├── chart-types/ shared chart definitions and template metadata
│   │       ├── vegalite/    Vega-Lite backend
│   │       ├── echarts/     ECharts backend
│   │       ├── chartjs/     Chart.js backend
│   │       ├── plotly/      Plotly backend
│   │       ├── excel/       native Excel backend
│   │       ├── gallery/     gallery assembly and generated references
│   │       └── test-data/   fixtures and stress-test generators
│   ├── flint-mcp/           MCP server, MCP App UI, assets, and tests
│   └── flint-py/            Python port preview (package to be released)
├── site/                    Vite + React project site, gallery, editor, and docs
├── agent-skills/            chart- and theme-authoring skills for agents
├── agents/                  agent and MCP server configuration
├── shared/test-data/        JSON fixtures shared across JS and Python
├── scripts/                 reference generation and theme audit tooling
├── docs/                    user, API, backend, and architecture documentation
└── design-docs/             design proposals and implementation research
```

### Documentation

The [project site](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/) is the main entry
point for examples, the live editor, and concept docs. For source-level
references, start with the [API reference](docs/api-reference.md), the
[theme guide](docs/theme-spec.md), the
[Flint MCP project page](https://microsoft.github.io/flint-chart/#/mcp), or the
[Development guide](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md). See the [changelog](CHANGELOG.md) for
notable changes in each release.

---

## Contributing

Contributions are welcome! See [.github/CONTRIBUTING.md](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md)
and the [Development guide](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md).

```bash
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart
cd flint-chart
npm install            # root workspaces: packages/flint-js + flint-mcp + site

npm run typecheck      # typecheck packages/flint-js + packages/flint-mcp
npm run test           # Vitest (packages/flint-js + packages/flint-mcp)
npm run build          # build packages/flint-js + packages/flint-mcp
npm run site           # demo site (gallery + editor) at http://localhost:5274/
```

Node 18+ is required. The demo site aliases `flint-chart` to
`packages/flint-js/src`, so library edits hot-reload in the gallery and editor
without rebuilding `dist/`.

We especially welcome contributions that add new
[chart templates](docs/adding-a-chart-template.md) or new
[rendering backends](docs/adding-a-backend.md).

This project has adopted the
[Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct](.github/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). See
[SECURITY.md](.github/SECURITY.md) to report vulnerabilities.

## Contributor

Flint is built by [Microsoft Research](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/)
in collaboration with the [IDEAS Lab](https://ideas-lab.net/), Renmin University
of China. We welcome you to join us — see [Contributing](#contributing) to get involved.

A research paper describing Flint is coming soon.

## Trademarks

This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services.
Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow
[Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/trademarks/usage/general).
Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not
cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks
or logos is subject to those third parties' policies.

## License

flint-chart

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