Using the Java gnuplot GUI JGP

In this recipe, we learn how to get started with the JGP program, which provides a basic but serviceable GUI front end to gnuplot.

Getting ready

JGP does not come with a normal gnuplot installation. You need to go to its home page at http://jgp.sourceforge.net/ and download the source code and Java binaries (JGP is an open source project, distributed under the GPL license, and authored by Maximilian Fabricius). You can compile it yourself or simply run the supplied binaries. The current version of the software works only with the Linux operating system. I encountered no difficulties running version 0.1.2 pre alpha of the software, using the Java binaries as supplied in the download. You should have Java version 5.0 installed, and in order for JGP to find gnuplot, it must be on your path.

Tip

Where is gnuplot?

To use GUI front ends, gnuplot must be on your path. For example, if you have been typing /usr/local/bin/gnuplot, you must now add this to your path with ...