datafist

is an in-browser tool for visually exploring your data.

it is awesome because it is

• visual: instead of memorizing Excel functions or R commands, you use a visual editor to build visualizations of your data, which then show up instantly;
• lightweight: it runs right in your browser, with no server or separate hosting required;
• open-source: you can clone this repo and try it out, or test it via the demo link below.

under the covers, datafist uses

• d3.js for visualization;
• mootools for other general JavaScript-y goodness; and
• the HTML5 File API to import data.

inspiration for datafist came from

• AudioMulch, an awesome graphical audio synthesis tool;
• PureData and Max/MSP, both powerful visual languages for signal processing;
• Direct Manipulation Interfaces, a classic paper on the design of intuitive interfaces; and
• FAKEGRIMLOCK, a fountain of poorly-Englished wisdom on entrepreneurship.

to learn more, you can

• watch an early development screencast;
• read the blog post; or
• test it out!