A DeVIL-ish approach to inconsistency in interactive visualizations

Abstract

Declarative languages have a long tradition in both the database systems and data visualization communities, separating specifications from implementations. In databases, declarative languages like SQL shield application programmers from changes to physical and logical properties like disk layouts, indexes and schema changes. In data visualization, declarative languages like Polaris, ggplot2 and Vega shield visualization programmers from variations in rendering, including screen layout, resolution, and color schemes. Declarative languages have been considered a foundational step forward in both communities.