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Version: 5.1.0

Technical information

Dependencies and telemetry​

LightningChart JS is a JavaScript/TypeScript library for placing high performance data visualization components in user interfaces. It is powered by WebGL, which is very well supported (see support table).

LightningChart JS has a minimal number of external dependencies (only 2 open source dependencies at time of writing 2023). You can check the up to date dependencies using npmgraph.

LightningChart JS does not include any intrusive or non-intrusive tracking, use metrics, analytics reporting etc. In production deployments, the library doesn't make any outbound network requests/calls (network requests are only used when developer licenses are used).

TypeScript​

In TypeScript applications, minimum TypeScript version required is currently 4.1 (released Nov 19 2020). The LCJS library build includes Typings which can be used for Intellisense even when working with JavaScript. This typings is distributed in @arction/lcjs/dist/lcjs.d.ts file. You can view the library build files in jsdelivr, for example.

Performance and GPU utilization​

LightningChart JS runs completely on client device without requiring any server setup etc. Performance is largely affected by client hardware (CPU, GPU, RAM). Best performance is found on personal computers, gaming laptops, modern mobile phones and embedded devices with dedicated GPUs. With other hardware, you can expect lesser performance but still significantly better real-time capabilities than with traditional HTML/SVG/Canvas based chart solutions, as long as there is at least an integrated graphics processing unit on the device.

LightningChart JS performance advantages are based on offloading heavy computations that traditional chart solutions run with CPU, to the GPU and utilizing low level graphic APIs directly in the most optimal manner possible for purposes of data visualization. The GPU driven algorithms of LCJS span from over 15 years of commercial experience with GPU accelerated data visualization, starting with the inception of the original GPU accelerated data visualization product, LightningChart .NET.

LightningChart JS has been excessively benchmarked against virtually all popular players in JavaScript chart solution market (commercial, free, open-source). It's key performance advantages are:

  • Capacity of handling significantly more data (+10 million data points without a sweat).
  • Utilizing considerably less CPU.
  • Reacting to data or style changes and user interactions at 60 FPS always.
  • Real-time oriented design and API.
  • Fast loading of large data sets (10 million data points line chart in 0.3 seconds).
  • Perfect when you need to interact, zoom, analyze and operate on extremely heavy visualizations.

Learn more about performance studies at our web site.

Deployment and internet connection​

LightningChart JS can be deployed to virtually any kind of environment: SaaS, public web site, offline intranet, distributable device, mobile application, desktop application. It does not need installation of license wizards for trialing, developing or production deployments.

Internet connection is only required when using a Developer license in a local development environment. Otherwise chart can be used fully offline.

By downloading, installing, copying or otherwise using LightningChart®JS, you are agreeing to be bound to the terms of our end user legal agreement. Please find the latest EULA at our web site.