This is a simple compilation and a taxonomy attempt of Python plotting libraries. This is focused on web alternatives that can be combined with iPython Notebook but at least one is desktop based. I used Python for most of my dissertation writing and now, during my Postdoc, the time to produce pretty publication plots is near. The list adds some details of the project as reported by its GitHub repo. This builds upon Nathan Lemoine's post.

Maplotlib and Matplotlib improvements:

Matplotlib: 14,758 commits, 4 branches, 43 releases, 360 contributors, Jul 12, 2015
Holoviews: 3,860 commits, 4 branches, 10 releases, 9 contributors, Jul 11, 2015
Seaborn: 1,378 commits, 10 branches, 9 releases, 38 contributors, Jul 10, 2015
ggplot: 731 commits, 3 branches, 0 releases, 40 contributors, Jun 11, 2015
mpld3: 540 commits, 13 branches, 1 releases, 27 contributors, Jul 6, 2015
Prettyplotlib: 252 commits, 5 branches, 0 releases, 21 contributors, Oct 6, 2014

Alternatives independent of Matplotlib based on d3:

plot.ly: 1,215 commits 26 branches 4 releases 8 contributors Jul 10, 2015
Vincent: 419 commits, 2 branches, 8 releases, 23 contributors, Jan 28, 2015
d3py: 161 commits, 3 branches, 0 releases, 8 contributors, Feb 7, 2014

Alternatives independent of Matplotlib:

Bokeh: 9,161 commits, 29 branches, 51 releases, 98 contributors, Jul 10, 2015
Veusz: 2,615 commits, 13 branches, 39 releases, 14 contributors, Jul 11, 2015
Python-highchart: 139 commits, 3 branches, 13 releases, 4 contributors, Jul 6, 2015

Image: Bokeh

To create a system diagram at work I tried to use Power Point but found that an important feature, the ability to add a label to a graph transition, was missing. I decided (as usual) to go online and spend a good amount of time to compare diagramming tools. This is a mini review of the compared apps and my decision

To start with I went to AlternativeTo looking for Gliffy, which was one of the suggestions Google gave me after looking for diagramming tools. AlternativeTo showed me among others, these:

Dia

Very well rated in AlternativeTo but seems it is not often updated anymore and GTK apps don’t work so well in my WIndows instalation.

yEd

Looks nice and OS portable (Java based) but seems to have restricted drawing capabilities seems to me the developers want to keep the software as a graph based tool and free connectors don’t exist in this world. Connector labelling is also a bit awkward.

draw.io

Although I am not particularly inclined to online apps, they keep getting faster and more responsive. Online apps are also the best way to find fresh and actively developed free applications today. draw.io seems to very well accept that users want to keep things private and allows some sort of offline storage. The app looks nice although not as nice as the other online contenders. A plus for looking like Google docs and connecting with Google drive.

Lucidchart

I remembered this from another of my software searches I did for interactive mockups. Someone was recommending it to do some sort of link based mockup if I remember correctly. This one looks great and allows connector labelling as all the others but the restricted capabilities for free users (including 60 objects max.) was a major downside for my specific requirements.

Gliffy

Also looks great and seems to enable plenty of diagram types. Big problem is the restriction to only 5 diagrams for free users and ‘NO PRIVATE DIAGRAMS’, what!?. Okey, it is free and they off course what to support the development but got me not to try it also.

This was just a personal review. I decided to go with draw.io.

To help my sister with her math homework (we live in different countries) I have been looking for a collaborative drawing tool where I can draw and write simple fractions while we talk over Skype. Here are a few options (as of August 2012):

http://docs.google.com/: No math, many shapes, shapes are hard to modify.
http://dabbleboard.com/: Has math, drawing libraries, shape detection.
http://scriblink.com/: Has math.
http://www.kerpoof.com/: Kids oriented.
http://cosketch.com/: Interesting text adding.
http://flockdraw.com/: Cute but simple.
http://awwapp.com/: Cute but simple.

Other lists:
http://www.pearltrees.com/viabf/boards-white-smart-ones/id5787731