LiveCharts2

# LiveCharts2 — Comprehensive Knowledge Base for LLMs

> **⚠️ Version Warning:** This document covers **LiveCharts v2** (package prefix `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.*`).
> The legacy **v0** (`LiveCharts` / `LiveCharts.Wpf`) is completely obsolete and has a different API.
> Do NOT mix v0 and v2 syntax. v0 reference: https://github.com/Live-Charts/Live-Charts

---

## Overview

LiveCharts2 (v2) is a flexible, cross-platform charting library for .NET. It fixes the main design issues of its
predecessor (v0), is focused on running everywhere, and improves flexibility. It uses **SkiaSharp** as its default
rendering backend — a cross-platform 2D graphics API for .NET based on Google's Skia graphics library.

- **Website / full docs:** https://livecharts.dev
- **GitHub:** https://github.com/Live-Charts/LiveCharts2
- **License:** MIT
- **Current version:** 2.1.0 (check NuGet for latest stable/prerelease)
- **Target frameworks (core):** `net462`, `netstandard2.0`, `net8.0`, `net8.0-windows`
- **C# language version:** 14.0

### Supported Platforms & NuGet Packages

| Platform | NuGet package |
|---|---|
| MAUI | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Maui` |
| Uno Platform (WinUI) | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Uno.WinUI` |
| Avalonia | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Avalonia` |
| WPF | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF` |
| WinForms | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WinForms` |
| WinUI | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WinUI` |
| Blazor WASM | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Blazor` |
| Eto.Forms | `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Eto` |

SkiaSharp minimum supported version: **2.88.9** (default: 3.119.0 for GPU support).

---

## Architecture

The library is divided into three main modules:

### Core (`LiveChartsCore`)

Platform-agnostic. Contains:
- A drawing **API** (interfaces) that defines all the shapes the library needs to build a chart
- The charting engine: measures sizes, calculates positions for every geometry
- The animation system (`Motion/` namespace) — `IAnimatable`, `MotionProperty`
- Change-detection via `CollectionDeepObserver` (wraps `INotifyPropertyChanged` / `INotifyCollectionChanged`)
- Series implementations: `LineSeries<T>`, `ColumnSeries<T>`, `PieSeries<T>`, `ScatterSeries<T>`, etc.

### Renderer (`LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharp`)

Implements the Core drawing API using SkiaSharp. Responsible for materializing geometry objects to pixels.
You can replace SkiaSharp with any other rendering engine (see `VorticeSample` using DirectX11 via Vortice.Windows).

### View (platform packages)

Platform-specific controls (`CartesianChart`, `PieChart`, `PolarChart`, `GeoMap`) that:
1. Ask the **Core** *what* to draw (geometry sizes and positions)
2. Ask the **Renderer** *how* to draw it (render to the platform surface)

### Animation System

LiveCharts generates animations by producing many frames over time. Each animatable object has
`MotionProperty` fields whose getter returns the *current interpolated value* for the current point
in time — not the last assigned value. This means:

```csharp
var line = new LineGeometry();
line.X1 = 0;
line.X1 = 100;
var x1 = line.X1; // returns 0 (animation has not elapsed yet)
// After 5 seconds (of a 10s linear transition): line.X1 returns ~50
```

### Automatic Update Cycle

1. User changes data (property or collection).
2. `CollectionDeepObserver` detects the change via `INotifyPropertyChanged` / `INotifyCollectionChanged`.
3. The chart **throttles** a *Measure request* (fires at most once every ~10 ms).
4. On measure: Core recalculates geometry positions → Update cycle draws frames until all `MotionProperty` animations complete.

---

## Installation

### Install via NuGet (pick your platform)

```
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Avalonia
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Maui
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Blazor
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WinForms
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WinUI
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Uno.WinUI
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Eto
```

> **Note for WPF / WinForms:** By default these projects target `netX.0-windows`, but SkiaSharp 3 does not provide
> a build for that TFM. Consider specifying a minimum Windows version: `net8.0-windows10.0.19041`.

### Configure LiveCharts at startup

Create a `CustomLiveChartsExtensions` class (shared across all platforms):

```csharp
using LiveChartsCore.Kernel;
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView;

public static partial class CustomLiveChartsExtensions
{
    public static LiveChartsSettings AddLiveChartsAppSettings(this LiveChartsSettings settings) =>
        settings
            .AddSkiaSharp()           // use SkiaSharp as renderer
            .AddDefaultMappers()      // register built-in type mappers
            .AddDefaultTheme()        // light/dark theme based on OS
            // optionally register a mapper for a custom type:
            .HasMap<City>((city, index) => new(index, city.Population));
}
```

#### WPF — `App.xaml.cs`

```csharp
protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
{
    base.OnStartup(e);
    LiveCharts.Configure(c => c.AddLiveChartsAppSettings());
}
```

#### Avalonia — `App.axaml.cs`

```csharp
public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
{
    LiveCharts.Configure(c => c.AddLiveChartsAppSettings());
    // ...
}
```

#### MAUI — `MauiProgram.cs`

```csharp
builder
    .UseMauiApp<App>()
    .UseLiveCharts(config => config.AddLiveChartsAppSettings());
```

#### Blazor — `App.razor`

```razor
@inject IJSRuntime JS
@code {
    protected override async Task OnInitializedAsync()
    {
        LiveCharts.Configure(c => c.AddLiveChartsAppSettings());
    }
}
```

---

## Core Concepts

### Series and Values

Every series is generic over its data type `T`. LiveCharts natively supports `short`, `int`, `long`, `float`,
`double`, `decimal` and their nullable forms. It also provides observable wrappers:

| Type | Use case |
|---|---|
| `ObservableValue` | Single Y value that notifies changes |
| `ObservablePoint` | Explicit X and Y |
| `WeightedPoint` | X, Y, Weight (bubble charts) |
| `DateTimePoint` | X is `DateTime` |
| `TimeSpanPoint` | X is `TimeSpan` |
| `ObservablePolarPoint` | Polar charts |
| `FinancialPoint` / `FinancialPointI` | OHLC candlestick charts |

```csharp
// simple array — static, no auto-update:
new LineSeries<double> { Values = new double[] { 1, 2, 3 } }

// ObservableCollection — auto-updates when items are added/removed:
var values = new ObservableCollection<ObservableValue>();
new LineSeries<ObservableValue> { Values = values }
values.Add(new ObservableValue(5));  // chart updates automatically
```

### Mappers

Use a **mapper** to teach LiveCharts how to plot a custom type:

```csharp
// Per-series mapper:
new LineSeries<TempSample>
{
    Values = samples,
    Mapping = (sample, index) => new Coordinate(sample.Time, sample.Temperature)
}

// Global mapper (applied to every series using TempSample):
LiveCharts.Configure(config =>
    config.HasMap<TempSample>((sample, index) => new Coordinate(sample.Time, sample.Temperature)));
```

### IChartEntity (high-performance custom types)

Implement `IChartEntity` directly on your model for best performance (no delegate overhead per point):

```csharp
public partial class TempSample : ObservableObject, IChartEntity
{
    [ObservableProperty] private int _time;
    [ObservableProperty] private double _temperature;

    public Coordinate Coordinate { get; protected set; }
    public ChartEntityMetaData? MetaData { get; set; }

    protected override void OnPropertyChanged(PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        Coordinate = new Coordinate(Time, Temperature);
        base.OnPropertyChanged(e);
    }
}
```

### Paints

A `Paint` is the v2 equivalent of WPF/Avalonia `Brush`. It wraps SkiaSharp's paint and adds animation support.

```csharp
using SkiaSharp;
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Painting;

// Solid color
new SolidColorPaint(SKColors.Blue) { StrokeThickness = 4 }

// Linear gradient
new LinearGradientPaint(
    new[] { new SKColor(255, 140, 148), new SKColor(220, 237, 194) },
    new SKPoint(0.5f, 0),   // gradient start (center-top)
    new SKPoint(0.5f, 1))   // gradient end   (center-bottom)

// Radial gradient
new RadialGradientPaint(new SKColor(255, 96, 96), new SKColor(255, 234, 96))

// null means "do not draw" (hides fill, stroke, etc.)
Fill = null
```

Available paint properties: `StrokeThickness`, `PathEffect` (for dashed lines), `ImageFilter`, etc.

### Animations

All charts animate automatically. Customize with:

```csharp
// Chart-level speed:
myChart.AnimationsSpeed = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(300);

// Easing function:
myChart.EasingFunction = EasingFunctions.BounceOut;

// Disable animations:
myChart.AnimationsSpeed = TimeSpan.Zero;
// or:
myChart.EasingFunction = null;
```

Series and Axes also have their own `AnimationsSpeed` and `EasingFunction` properties
(override the chart-level value when non-null).

### Null / missing points

Set a value to `null` or a `Coordinate` to `Coordinate.Empty` to create gaps:

```csharp
new LineSeries<double?>
{
    Values = new double?[] { 2, 6, null, 3, 5 }
}
```

### Hardware Acceleration (GPU)

```csharp
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.SKCharts;

LiveCharts.Configure(c => c
    .AddLiveChartsRenderSettings());  // see LiveChartsRenderSettings.cs in samples
```

GPU is disabled by default. On Avalonia/Uno with SkiaRenderer the GPU setting is ignored
(the UI framework controls rendering).

---

## Chart Types

### CartesianChart

Standard X/Y chart. Hosts `Series` (collection of `ICartesianSeries`), `XAxes`, `YAxes`.

Supports: `LineSeries`, `ColumnSeries`, `ScatterSeries`, `StepLineSeries`, `HeatSeries`,
`CandlesticksSeries`, `StackedLineSeries`, `StackedColumnSeries`, `StackedStepLineSeries`, `BoxSeries`, `ErrorSeries`.

Key properties: `Series`, `XAxes`, `YAxes`, `ZoomMode`, `AnimationsSpeed`, `TooltipPosition`, `LegendPosition`.

### PieChart

Hosts `PieSeries<T>`. Used for pie, doughnut, gauge, and Nightingale rose charts.

### PolarChart

Hosts `PolarLineSeries<T>` and `PolarScatterSeries<T>`. Uses polar (angle + radius) coordinates.

### GeoMap

Displays geographic maps. Hosts `HeatLandSeries` to color countries/regions by value.

---

## XAML Integration (WPF, Avalonia, MAUI, WinUI)

### XAML Types (Xaml-prefixed)

Every `Series<T>` and `Axis` has a XAML-friendly counterpart (prefix `Xaml`). These live in the visual tree
and support data bindings, styles, hot-reload and designer previews:

- `XamlLineSeries`, `XamlColumnSeries`, `XamlPieSeries`, `XamlScatterSeries`, etc.
- `XamlAxis`, `XamlDrawnLabelVisual`

The non-Xaml types (`LineSeries<T>`, `ColumnSeries<T>`) are plain C# objects and do **not** live in the
visual tree — use them in ViewModels when you want to keep UI logic separate from SkiaSharp dependencies.

### SeriesCollection (WPF / WinUI / Uno)

WPF, WinUI and Uno use `SeriesCollection` as a container in XAML to hold multiple series children:

```xml
<lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
    <lvc:SeriesCollection>
        <lvc:XamlLineSeries Values="{Binding Values1}"/>
        <lvc:XamlColumnSeries Values="{Binding Values2}"/>
    </lvc:SeriesCollection>
</lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
```

Avalonia and MAUI support multiple children directly (no wrapper needed).

---

## Code Examples

### Example 1 — Basic Line Chart (WPF, code-behind + XAML MVVM)

**ViewModel (shared, no UI dependencies):**

```csharp
// samples/ViewModelsSamples/Lines/Basic/ViewModel.cs
namespace ViewModelsSamples.Lines.Basic;

public class ViewModel
{
    public double[] Values1 { get; set; } = [2, 1, 3, 5, 3, 4, 6];
    public int[]    Values2 { get; set; } = [4, 2, 5, 2, 4, 5, 3];
}
```

**WPF View (View.xaml):**

```xml
<UserControl
    x:Class="WPFSample.Lines.Basic.View"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:lvc="clr-namespace:LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF;assembly=LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF"
    xmlns:vms="clr-namespace:ViewModelsSamples.Lines.Basic;assembly=ViewModelsSamples">

    <UserControl.DataContext>
        <vms:ViewModel/>
    </UserControl.DataContext>

    <lvc:CartesianChart>
        <lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
            <lvc:SeriesCollection>
                <lvc:XamlLineSeries Values="{Binding Values1}" Fill="{x:Null}" GeometrySize="20"/>
                <lvc:XamlLineSeries Values="{Binding Values2}" Fill="{x:Null}" GeometrySize="20"/>
            </lvc:SeriesCollection>
        </lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
    </lvc:CartesianChart>

</UserControl>
```

**Avalonia View (View.axaml):**

```xml
<UserControl
    x:Class="AvaloniaSample.Lines.Basic.View"
    xmlns="https://github.com/avaloniaui"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:lvc="using:LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Avalonia"
    xmlns:vms="using:ViewModelsSamples.Lines.Basic"
    x:DataType="vms:ViewModel">

    <UserControl.DataContext>
        <vms:ViewModel/>
    </UserControl.DataContext>

    <lvc:CartesianChart>
        <lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
            <lvc:XamlLineSeries Values="{Binding Values1}" Fill="{x:Null}" GeometrySize="20"/>
            <lvc:XamlLineSeries Values="{Binding Values2}" Fill="{x:Null}" GeometrySize="20"/>
        </lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
    </lvc:CartesianChart>

</UserControl>
```

---

### Example 2 — Bar Chart with Axis Labels (WPF)

**ViewModel:**

```csharp
namespace ViewModelsSamples.Bars.Basic;

public class ViewModel
{
    public double[] MaryValues { get; set; } = [2, 5, 4];
    public double[] AnaValues  { get; set; } = [3, 1, 6];
    public string[] Labels     { get; set; } = ["Category 1", "Category 2", "Category 3"];
}
```

**WPF View:**

```xml
<UserControl
    x:Class="WPFSample.Bars.Basic.View"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:lvc="clr-namespace:LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF;assembly=LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF"
    xmlns:vms="clr-namespace:ViewModelsSamples.Bars.Basic;assembly=ViewModelsSamples">

    <UserControl.DataContext>
        <vms:ViewModel/>
    </UserControl.DataContext>

    <lvc:CartesianChart LegendPosition="Right">

        <lvc:CartesianChart.Series>
            <lvc:SeriesCollection>
                <lvc:XamlColumnSeries SeriesName="Mary" Values="{Binding MaryValues}"/>
                <lvc:XamlColumnSeries SeriesName="Ana"  Values="{Binding AnaValues}"/>
            </lvc:SeriesCollection>
        </lvc:CartesianChart.Series>

        <lvc:CartesianChart.XAxes>
            <lvc:AxesCollection>
                <lvc:XamlAxis
                    Labels="{Binding Labels}"
                    SeparatorsPaint="#c8c8c8"
                    SeparatorsAtCenter="False"
                    TicksPaint="#232323"
                    TicksAtCenter="True"
                    MinStep="1"
                    ForceStepToMin="True"/>
            </lvc:AxesCollection>
        </lvc:CartesianChart.XAxes>

    </lvc:CartesianChart>

</UserControl>
```

---

### Example 3 — Real-Time Chart (shared ViewModel, any platform)

Adds a new `DateTimePoint` every 100 ms using `ObservableCollection` — the chart updates automatically
because `ObservableCollection` implements `INotifyCollectionChanged`.

```csharp
using System;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
using LiveChartsCore.Defaults;

namespace ViewModelsSamples.General.RealTime;

public partial class ViewModel : ObservableObject
{
    public ViewModel() { _ = ReadData(); }

    // 'partial' is required by CommunityToolkit.Mvvm source generator (C# 14 partial properties)
    [ObservableProperty]
    public partial double[] Separators { get; set; } = [];

    public ObservableCollection<DateTimePoint> Values { get; set; } = [];

    public Func<DateTime, string> LabelsFormatter { get; } =
        date => (DateTime.Now - date).TotalSeconds < 1 ? "now" : $"{(DateTime.Now - date).TotalSeconds:N0}s ago";

    // Use a lock so background thread writes are safe
    public object Sync { get; } = new object();
    public bool IsReading { get; set; } = true;

    private async Task ReadData()
    {
        var random = new Random();
        while (IsReading)
        {
            await Task.Delay(100);
            lock (Sync)
            {
                Values.Add(new DateTimePoint(DateTime.Now, random.Next(0, 10)));
                if (Values.Count > 250) Values.RemoveAt(0);
                Separators = GetSeparators();
            }
        }
    }

    private static double[] GetSeparators()
    {
        var now = DateTime.Now;
        return [
            now.AddSeconds(-25).Ticks,
            now.AddSeconds(-20).Ticks,
            now.AddSeconds(-15).Ticks,
            now.AddSeconds(-10).Ticks,
            now.AddSeconds(-5).Ticks,
            now.Ticks
        ];
    }
}
```

> **Threading note:** When updating chart data from a non-UI thread, use a lock object (`Sync`) and assign
> it to the chart's `SyncContext` property so LiveCharts can coordinate reads/writes safely.

---

### Example 4 — Pie Chart with Named Slices

```csharp
namespace ViewModelsSamples.Pies.Basic;

public class PieData(string name, double value)
{
    public string Name   { get; set; } = name;
    public double[] Values { get; set; } = [value];
}

public class ViewModel
{
    public PieData[] Data { get; set; } =
    [
        new("Mary",    10),
        new("John",    20),
        new("Alice",   30),
        new("Bob",     40),
        new("Charlie", 50),
    ];
}
```

**WPF View (using XAML template):**

```xml
<lvc:PieChart SeriesSource="{Binding Data}">
    <lvc:PieChart.SeriesTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <lvc:XamlPieSeries
                SeriesName="{Binding Name}"
                Values="{Binding Values}"/>
        </DataTemplate>
    </lvc:PieChart.SeriesTemplate>
</lvc:PieChart>
```

---

### Example 5 — Custom Mapper (CLI / Console / Server)

Render a chart to an image without any UI framework using `SKCartesianChart`:

```csharp
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.SKCharts;
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView;

// Custom data type
public class TempSample { public int Time { get; set; } public double Temperature { get; set; } }

var samples = new[]
{
    new TempSample { Time = 1, Temperature = 65.65 },
    new TempSample { Time = 5, Temperature = 62.23 },
    new TempSample { Time = 8, Temperature = 85.12 },
};

var chart = new SKCartesianChart
{
    Width  = 900,
    Height = 600,
    Series = new[]
    {
        new LineSeries<TempSample>
        {
            Values  = samples,
            Mapping = (sample, index) => new(sample.Time, sample.Temperature)
        }
    },
    XAxes = new[] { new Axis { Labeler = value => $"{value} s" } },
    YAxes = new[] { new Axis { Labeler = value => $"{value} °C" } },
};

chart.SaveImage("chart.png");
```

---

## Axes

The `CartesianChart` exposes `XAxes` and `YAxes` (both `IEnumerable<IAxis>`). Default: one `Axis` each.

### Key Axis properties

| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| `Labeler` | `Func<double, string>` — formats axis tick labels |
| `Labels` | `IList<string>` — named labels (index-based, used for category axes) |
| `MinLimit` / `MaxLimit` | Fix the visible range (used for zooming/panning) |
| `MinStep` / `ForceStepToMin` | Force minimum separation between ticks |
| `SeparatorsPaint` | Paint for grid lines |
| `TicksPaint` | Paint for axis tick marks |
| `NamePaint` | Paint for the axis name label |
| `DataLabelsPaint` | Paint for data labels on the series |
| `CrosshairPaint` | Paint for crosshair lines |
| `IsVisible` | Show/hide the axis |
| `Position` | `AxisPosition.Start` or `AxisPosition.End` |

### Zooming and Panning

```csharp
// Enable X-axis zoom and pan:
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.X;

// Enable both axes:
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.Both;

// Disable:
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.None;
```

Each gesture also has its own flag (`PanX`, `ZoomX`, `PanY`, `ZoomY`) so zoom and pan can be enabled independently. The composites `X = PanX | ZoomX`, `Y = PanY | ZoomY` and `Both = X | Y` keep their original pan+zoom semantics.

```csharp
// Allow zooming on the X axis but disable panning (e.g. so pan gestures don't hide tooltips on mobile):
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.ZoomX;

// Zoom on X, pan on Y:
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.ZoomX | ZoomAndPanMode.PanY;
```

`ZoomAndPanMode` is a flags enum — combine values:
```csharp
myChart.ZoomMode = ZoomAndPanMode.X | ZoomAndPanMode.NoFit | ZoomAndPanMode.NoZoomBySection;
```

### DateTime / TimeSpan Axes

Use `DateTimePoint` or `TimeSpanPoint` for time-based X axes and format with a `Labeler`:

```csharp
XAxes = new[]
{
    new Axis
    {
        Labeler = value => new DateTime((long)value).ToString("HH:mm:ss"),
        UnitWidth = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1).Ticks,
        MinStep  = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1).Ticks,
    }
};
```

---

## Tooltips & Legends

```csharp
// Tooltip position options: Top (default), Bottom, Left, Right, Center, Hidden
myChart.TooltipPosition = TooltipPosition.Bottom;

// Legend position: Hidden (default), Top, Bottom, Left, Right
myChart.LegendPosition = LegendPosition.Right;
```

Custom tooltips: implement `IChartTooltip<TDrawingContext>` and assign to `Chart.Tooltip`.  
Custom legends: implement `IChartLegend<TDrawingContext>` and assign to `Chart.Legend`.

---

## Sections (Reference Lines / Bands)

```csharp
using LiveChartsCore;

myChart.Sections = new[]
{
    new RectangularSection
    {
        Yi = 4,
        Yj = 8,
        Fill = new SolidColorPaint(new SKColor(255, 205, 210, 100))
    }
};
```

---

## Drawing on Canvas

Use `Chart.VisualElements` to overlay custom SkiaSharp drawing:

```csharp
myChart.VisualElements = new[]
{
    new DrawnVisual
    {
        OnDraw = (canvas, chart) =>
        {
            canvas.DrawText("Hello!", new SKPoint(100, 100), new SKPaint { Color = SKColors.Black });
        }
    }
};
```

---

## Server-Side / Console Chart Generation

Install only the core packages (no UI framework required):

```
dotnet add package LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView
```

Use `SKCartesianChart`, `SKPieChart`, `SKPolarChart`, `SKGeoMap` — they all inherit from `InMemorySkiaSharpChart`
and expose a `GetImage()` method that returns an `SKImage`:

```csharp
var chart = new SKCartesianChart
{
    Width = 900, Height = 600,
    Series = new ISeries[] { new LineSeries<int> { Values = new[] { 1, 2, 3 } } }
};

// Save to file:
chart.SaveImage("output.png");

// Or get bytes for HTTP response:
using var image  = chart.GetImage();
using var data   = image.Encode(SKEncodedImageFormat.Png, 100);
using var stream = data.AsStream();
```

---

## Multi-threading

When modifying chart data from a background thread, always use a `lock`:

```csharp
// 1. Define a sync object in your ViewModel:
public object Sync { get; } = new object();

// 2. Assign it to the chart control (XAML or code-behind):
//    myChart.SyncContext = viewModel.Sync;

// 3. Wrap all data mutations in the lock:
lock (Sync)
{
    Values.Add(new ObservableValue(random.Next(0, 10)));
    if (Values.Count > 200) Values.RemoveAt(0);
}
```

---

## Themes and Color Palettes

```csharp
LiveCharts.Configure(settings =>
    settings
        .AddDefaultTheme(theme =>
            theme.OnInitialized(() =>
            {
                theme.AnimationsSpeed  = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(300);
                theme.EasingFunction   = EasingFunctions.QuadraticOut;
                theme.Colors           = ColorPalletes.MaterialDesign500;
            })));
```

Built-in palettes: `MaterialDesign200`, `MaterialDesign500`, `MaterialDesign800`, `FluentDesign`, etc.

---

## Common Namespaces

```csharp
using LiveChartsCore;                            // ISeries, IAxis, LiveCharts.Configure, etc.
using LiveChartsCore.Defaults;                   // ObservableValue, ObservablePoint, DateTimePoint, etc.
using LiveChartsCore.Kernel;                     // Coordinate, ChartEntityMetaData, IChartEntity
using LiveChartsCore.Measure;                    // ZoomAndPanMode, TooltipPosition, LegendPosition, etc.
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView;              // LineSeries, ColumnSeries, Axis, etc. (non-XAML)
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Painting;     // SolidColorPaint, LinearGradientPaint, etc.
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF;          // CartesianChart, PieChart (WPF controls)
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Avalonia;     // CartesianChart, PieChart (Avalonia controls)
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.Maui;         // CartesianChart, PieChart (MAUI controls)
using LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.SKCharts;     // SKCartesianChart, SKPieChart (server-side)
using SkiaSharp;                                 // SKColor, SKPoint, SKPaint, etc.
```

---

## API Reference URL Pattern

```
https://livecharts.dev/api/{LiveChartsVersion}/{objectFullName}
```

Use `latest` as the version for the most recent docs, or a specific version string.
`{objectFullName}` uses CLI metadata naming (e.g. `LiveChartsCore.SkiaSharpView.WPF.CartesianChart`).

Full docs: `https://livecharts.dev/docs/{UIFramework}/{LiveChartsVersion}/{ArticleName}`

Where `{UIFramework}` ∈ `maui`, `unowinui`, `avalonia`, `eto`, `blazor`, `wpf`, `winforms`, `winui`.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: My chart is blank / not showing.**  
A: The chart control has no default size constraint. Set an explicit `Width` and `Height`, or ensure the
parent layout does not collapse the control to zero size.

**Q: Changes to my data don't update the chart.**  
A: Use `ObservableCollection<T>` for the `Series` collection and the `Values` collection.
For property-level updates, implement `INotifyPropertyChanged` on your data class (or use `ObservableValue`).

**Q: How do I use LiveCharts without SkiaSharp?**  
A: Implement the Core drawing interfaces (`IDrawingContext`, etc.) and register your custom renderer.
The `VorticeSample` in the repository demonstrates this using DirectX11 via Vortice.Windows.

**Q: Can I use LiveCharts in a Blazor Server app?**  
A: The official package targets Blazor WASM. For server-side use, use `SKCartesianChart` to generate
PNG/JPEG images on the server and serve them as `<img>` tags.

**Q: How do I disable animations?**  
A: Set `myChart.EasingFunction = null;` or `myChart.AnimationsSpeed = TimeSpan.Zero;`.

More agent context in Live-Charts/LiveCharts2

5 other files this repository gives its agents.