Data Formulator vs FlameGraph
A data-driven comparison of two Data visualization apps & tools: popularity, development activity, licensing and installation. Updated .
Data FormulatorAI-assisted tool for transforming data and creating visualizations, from Microsoft Research.
FlameGraphStack trace visualizer that generates interactive SVG flame graphs from profiling data.
Key differences
- FlameGraph and Data Formulator have a similar number of GitHub stars (19.8K vs 17.5K).
- Data Formulator had more development activity over the last 12 months: 930 commits vs 0.
- Data Formulator is written primarily in Python, FlameGraph in Perl.
- FlameGraph is the older project: its repository was created in 2011, Data Formulator's in 2024.
- FlameGraph has had no commits since Oct 20, 2024.
By the numbers
- Data Formulator
- FlameGraph
Show data as a table
| Metric | Data Formulator | FlameGraph |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 17,525 | 19,785 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 930 | 0 |
| Contributors | 36 | 61 |
| Forks | 1,724 | 2,110 |
Development activity
Commits per month to each default branch, last 12 complete months.
- Data Formulator
- FlameGraph
Show data as a table
| Month | Data Formulator | FlameGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40 | 0 |
| Nov 2025 | 42 | 0 |
| Dec 2025 | 48 | 0 |
| Jan 2026 | 38 | 0 |
| Feb 2026 | 129 | 0 |
| Mar 2026 | 146 | 0 |
| Apr 2026 | 231 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 136 | 0 |
| Jun 2026 | 22 | 0 |
| Jul 2026 | 66 | 0 |
| Aug 2026 | 32 | 0 |
| Sep 2026 | 0 | 0 |
Side by side
| Attribute | Data Formulator | FlameGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Description | AI-assisted tool for transforming data and creating visualizations, from Microsoft Research. | Stack trace visualizer that generates interactive SVG flame graphs from profiling data. |
| Category | Data visualization apps & tools | Data visualization apps & tools |
| License | MIT | – |
| Language | Python | Perl |
| Status | Active | Inactive |
| Latest release | 0.8b1 () | v1.0 () |
| Last commit | ||
| Repository created | ||
| Open issues | 54 | 121 |
| Install | pip install data-formulator | – |
Which should you choose?
Popularity and activity are only part of the story. Consider which ecosystem you work in, the chart types and interactions you need, how much data you render, and whether the license fits your project. Both tool pages list alternatives if neither is quite right.
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Data Formulator
AI-assisted tool for transforming data and creating visualizations, from Microsoft Research.
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FlameGraph
Stack trace visualizer that generates interactive SVG flame graphs from profiling data.