Plotssuch

Plotssuch is a concept in data visualization and automated chart generation referring to systems and methods that produce plots which satisfy user-defined constraints or preferences. Rather than returning a single visualization, plotssuch frameworks typically generate a set of candidate plots and then rank or filter them according to criteria such as readability, information density, aesthetic simplicity, or alignment with a stated analytical goal. The term is informal and appears mainly in discussions, experimental tooling, and working notes rather than as a formal standard.

Origin and usage concepts

The term plotssuch emerged in online communities and practitioner discussions in the late 2010s as a shorthand for constraint-based visualization design. It is not tied to a single software project or organization, and its interpretation can vary across contexts. In practice, plotssuch approaches are used to support exploratory data analysis, automated reporting, and the generation of dashboards where multiple plot options must be considered quickly.

Methodology

Plotssuch methods rely on constraint specification and automated evaluation. Techniques commonly employed include constraint programming, optimization, rule-based heuristics, evolutionary or genetic algorithms, and lightweight machine learning models to predict plot usefulness. Inputs typically include metadata about the data (variables, types, ranges), a set of user-specified constraints (plot types, relationships to emphasize, color encodings), and quality metrics (clarity, redundancy, correctness).

Applications and limitations

Applications span automated report generation, interactive dashboards, and teaching tools for data visualization concepts. Limitations include ambiguity in subjective criteria, potential computational cost for large constraint sets, and the risk of over-constraining the search, which can omit novel or unexpected insights.

See also: data visualization, constraint-based design, automatic chart generation, visual analytics.