Chart Authoring

Problem

Non-technical users shouldn’t have to write YAML to create a chart. But the underlying format should still be human-readable for power users who want to version or hand-edit their dashboards.

Solution

A form-based chart editor that produces chart specs in the flexChart DSL. The editor writes directly to the dashboard’s Markdown source — the Markdown is always the source of truth. Power users can edit the YAML directly; casual users never see it.

User Stories

• As a non-technical user, I can create a bar chart by picking columns from dropdown menus without touching any code.
• As a power user, I can switch to the Markdown source and fine-tune chart specs directly.
• As someone building a dashboard, I can get chart type suggestions based on my data.

UI Flow

1. Click “Add Chart” in the dashboard editor
2. The Chart Editor opens with a form: chart type picker, column selectors, title, sort, format
3. On-device intelligence (optional) suggests a chart type based on the data shape
4. Style and advanced options are tucked behind a DisclosureGroup for progressive disclosure
5. On save, the editor inserts or updates a flexchart fenced code block in the Markdown

Platforms

• macOS: Full form-based editor with intelligence suggestions

Known Limitations

• No drag-to-reorder for chart elements
• No multi-layer / composite marks (planned for v2)
• Interactive tooltip configuration is automatic — no custom configuration

Marketing One-Liner

Create charts by clicking, not coding — powered by on-device intelligence.