Basic Step Plot — Makie.jl

A step plot (also known as a stair plot or stepped line chart) displays data using horizontal lines connected by vertical lines, creating a stair-step pattern. Unlike line charts that interpolate between points, step plots show values as constant until the next change occurs. This makes them ideal for visualizing data that changes at discrete intervals, emphasizing the exact moments when values change.

Basic Step Plot rendered with Makie.jl

Renders

Julia source (Makie.jl)

# anyplot.ai
# step-basic: Basic Step Plot
# Library: makie 0.21.9 | Julia 1.11.9
# Quality: 92/100 | Created: 2026-07-25

using CairoMakie
using Colors

# --- Theme tokens -----------------------------------------------------------
const THEME    = get(ENV, "ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
const PAGE_BG  = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#FAF8F1" : colorant"#1A1A17"
const INK      = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#1A1A17" : colorant"#F0EFE8"
const INK_SOFT = THEME == "light" ? colorant"#4A4A44" : colorant"#B8B7B0"
const IMPRINT_PALETTE = [
    colorant"#009E73", colorant"#C475FD", colorant"#4467A3", colorant"#BD8233",
    colorant"#AE3030", colorant"#2ABCCD", colorant"#954477", colorant"#99B314",
]

# --- Data --------------------------------------------------------------------
# Open checkout lanes at a retail store — staffing changes at discrete times
# throughout the day, holding constant until the next adjustment ('post' step).
hours = [6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24]
open_lanes = [2, 4, 7, 9, 8, 10, 12, 8, 4, 0]

# Expand to 'post'-step coordinates so the area under the stairs can be
# shaded with band!() — a Makie-distinctive way to give the step curve
# visual weight instead of a bare line.
step_x = Float64[]
step_y = Float64[]
for i in 1:length(hours)-1
    push!(step_x, hours[i]); push!(step_y, open_lanes[i])
    push!(step_x, hours[i+1]); push!(step_y, open_lanes[i])
end
push!(step_x, hours[end]); push!(step_y, open_lanes[end])

peak_idx = argmax(open_lanes)

# --- Plot ----------------------------------------------------------------------
fig = Figure(
    size            = (1600, 900),
    fontsize        = 14,
    backgroundcolor = PAGE_BG,
)

ax = Axis(
    fig[1, 1];
    title              = "Checkout Lanes Open · step-basic · julia · makie · anyplot.ai",
    titlesize          = 20,
    titlecolor         = INK,
    xlabel             = "Time of Day",
    ylabel             = "Open Checkout Lanes",
    xlabelsize         = 14,
    ylabelsize         = 14,
    xlabelcolor        = INK,
    ylabelcolor        = INK,
    xticklabelsize     = 12,
    yticklabelsize     = 12,
    xticklabelcolor    = INK_SOFT,
    yticklabelcolor    = INK_SOFT,
    xtickcolor         = INK_SOFT,
    ytickcolor         = INK_SOFT,
    backgroundcolor    = PAGE_BG,
    topspinevisible    = false,
    rightspinevisible  = false,
    leftspinecolor     = INK_SOFT,
    bottomspinecolor   = INK_SOFT,
    xgridvisible       = false,
    ygridcolor         = RGBAf(INK.r, INK.g, INK.b, 0.15),
    xticks             = (hours, [lpad(h, 2, '0') * ":00" for h in hours]),
)
xlims!(ax, 5.5, 24.5)
ylims!(ax, -0.5, 13.5)

band!(ax, step_x, zeros(length(step_x)), step_y;
    color = (IMPRINT_PALETTE[1], 0.15))
stairs!(ax, hours, open_lanes; color = IMPRINT_PALETTE[1], linewidth = 3, step = :post)
scatter!(ax, hours, open_lanes;
    color = IMPRINT_PALETTE[1], markersize = 16,
    strokewidth = 1.5, strokecolor = PAGE_BG)
scatter!(ax, [hours[peak_idx]], [open_lanes[peak_idx]];
    color = IMPRINT_PALETTE[1], markersize = 24,
    strokewidth = 2, strokecolor = PAGE_BG)

# --- Save ----------------------------------------------------------------------
save("plot-$(THEME).png", fig; px_per_unit = 2)

Retrieve this implementation

Runnable source as JSON, for any HTTP client: https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/step-basic/makie/code. Any spec id and library id listed in llms-full.txt fit the same URL shape; every URL below is complete and callable.

{
  "spec_id": "step-basic",
  "language": "julia",
  "library": "makie",
  "page": "https://anyplot.ai/step-basic/julia/makie",
  "hub": "https://anyplot.ai/step-basic",
  "code_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/step-basic/makie/code",
  "spec_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/step-basic",
  "render_light_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/step-basic/julia/makie/plot-light.png",
  "render_dark_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/step-basic/julia/makie/plot-dark.png",
  "quality_score": 92.0,
  "license": "MIT",
  "guide": "https://anyplot.ai/llms.txt"
}

Part of Basic Step Plot on anyplot.ai.

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