[line-timeseries] line-timeseries: Time Series Line Plot

[MarkusNeusinger]

Plot Request

Line plot with datetime x-axis and proper date formatting.

Use Cases

• Stock prices over time
• Sensor data
• Any temporal data

Expected Features

• Datetime x-axis with smart formatting
• Proper tick labels (days, months, years)
• Grid lines for readability

[claude]

✅ Spec ID: line-timeseries

Rationale: This spec focuses specifically on datetime x-axis handling with smart date formatting/tick labels, which is distinct from line-basic (general sequential data) and line-multi (multiple series comparison). Time series plots require specialized date formatting logic.

Add label approved to begin generation.

[github-actions]

✅ Specification Ready: line-timeseries

PR: #2016

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specification.md

line-timeseries: Time Series Line Plot

Description

A time series line plot displays data points connected by lines over a datetime x-axis, with smart date formatting that automatically adjusts tick labels based on the time scale (days, months, years). This plot type is essential for temporal data analysis where proper date formatting and readability are critical. Unlike basic line plots, time series plots handle datetime parsing, timezone awareness, and intelligent tick label formatting.

Applications

• Tracking stock prices or financial instrument performance over trading periods
• Monitoring sensor readings (temperature, humidity, pressure) over time
• Analyzing website traffic, user engagement, or API usage patterns over days/months

Data

• date (datetime) - Timestamp values representing points in time
• value (numeric) - Continuous measurements or observations at each timestamp
• Size: 30-500 points (enough to show meaningful temporal patterns)
• Example: Daily closing prices for a stock over one year, hourly temperature readings for a week

Notes

• Use intelligent date formatting that adapts to the time range (e.g., "%H:%M" for hours, "%b %d" for days, "%Y" for years)
• Rotate or stagger tick labels if needed to prevent overlap
• Include grid lines on both axes for improved readability
• Consider using date locators (e.g., MonthLocator, DayLocator) for consistent tick spacing
• The x-axis should clearly communicate the temporal nature of the data

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Next: Add approved label to merge this specification to main.

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