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View guide →// design · microsoft/flint-chart
flint-chart
flint-chart is an open-source design project by microsoft (microsoft/flint-chart on GitHub). It has 4,351 GitHub stars and 245 forks, is released under the MIT license, and was last updated on GitHub on 8 October 2026.
Flint compiles semantic chart specs into Vega-Lite, ECharts, Chart.js, Plotly — or native Excel charts
★ 4.4k stars⑂ 245 forksMITupdated 2026-10
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts
Project facts
- Repository
- microsoft/flint-chart
- GitHub stars
- 4,351
- Forks
- 245
- License
- MIT
- Last updated on GitHub
- 8 October 2026
- Category
- Design
- Listing
- Full install guide
- Official site
- Official site
// how it works
How it works
- Frame your data semantically
Identify the semantic types behind your fields — measures like Price or Temperature, dimensions like Country or Rank.
- Install the library
Add flint-chart from npm (or connect the hosted/npx MCP server for agent use).
- Write a semantic spec
Describe the chart in Flint's compact spec format rather than low-level chart options.
- Compile and render
Assemble output for your target — Vega-Lite, ECharts, Chart.js, Plotly, or a native Excel chart — and iterate on the theme.
// features
Why people love it
Semantic typing system
70+ semantic types let the compiler choose sensible encodings, scales, and formatting for your data.
Five output targets
Compile one spec to Vega-Lite, ECharts, Chart.js, Plotly, or native editable Excel charts.
Formal visual themes
Ten built-in presets plus custom ThemeSpec definitions with inheritance for house styles.
MCP server for agents
`npx flint-chart-mcp` (or the hosted endpoint) lets agents create, validate, and render charts, including PNG/SVG output.
Automatic layout
Layout and labeling are handled by the compiler rather than hand-tuned per chart.
Compact specs
Specifications stay short and data-focused compared with hand-writing Vega-Lite or ECharts options.
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// run it
Run it yourself
- Clone the repository
Clone the project and enter its directory (library users can install from npm instead).
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/flint-chart.git cd flint-chart - Install the library
Add Flint Chart to your Node/TypeScript project.
npm install flint-chart - Compile your first chart
Assemble a chart spec into Vega-Lite (or another target) as shown in the README examples.
import { assembleVegaLite } from 'flint-chart' // build a semantic spec and pass it to assembleVegaLite({...}) — see README examples
// use cases
What you can build
- Generate consistent, publication-style charts from data in a TypeScript app
- Let an AI agent produce validated charts through the Flint MCP server
- Export analyst charts as native, editable Excel objects instead of images
- Enforce one visual identity across dashboards via a shared ThemeSpec
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// faq
Questions, answered
Who maintains Flint Chart?
Microsoft Research publishes Flint Chart (the hosted MCP demo is at flint.data-formulator.ai).
Is Flint Chart free?
Yes, MIT-licensed, including the npm library and the local MCP server.
Does it need a paid API key?
No. The library and MCP server run locally; agents connecting to them use their own model access.
How does it compare to writing Vega-Lite directly?
Vega-Lite is one of Flint's output targets. Flint adds a semantic layer on top — types, themes, and layout — so one compact spec can target Vega-Lite, ECharts, Chart.js, Plotly, or Excel.
How do I get started?
Run `npm install flint-chart` and follow the README's assemble examples, or connect an agent with `npx -y flint-chart-mcp`.
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Get flint-chart
Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.