Dashboard Tool Options

Various tools make it easier for data analysts to build and share dashboards without needing to be full-stack developers. These tools let you turn Python functions, plots, and data pipelines into interactive web apps with minimal code πŸš€

Below are some popular options, each with different strengths depending on your goals, environment, and data privacy needs:

πŸ› οΈ Common Dashboard Tools

  • 🎨 Gradio
    A Python library for wrapping functions into user interfaces with input and output components. Ideal for data exploration, machine learning demos, and simple forms. Gradio runs directly inside Jupyter and Google Colab notebooks, with optional shareable links.

  • ✨ Gradio Lite
    A zero-dependency, browser-based version of Gradio. It runs entirely in the user’s browser using static HTML and JavaScript. Great for lightweight dashboards and embedding in websitesβ€”but note:

    • It loads all libraries and data in the browser, so may take longer to load ⏳
    • All your code is visible to users, which may raise IP or licensing concerns if you’re distributing proprietary models or logic πŸ‘€

  • ⚑ Streamlit
    An expressive tool for turning Python scripts into interactive dashboards with live widgets and visualisations. Requires a Python server to run, but supports rich layout control and rapid prototyping.

  • πŸ“Š Plotly Dash
    Built on Plotly and Flask, Dash supports advanced interactive plots and precise control over layout. It’s suited for complex enterprise applications but requires a deployment environment.

  • 🌐 HTML Web Page
    You can always build dashboards using HTML, JavaScript, and libraries like D3.js. This provides full control but demands web development skills and effort.

πŸ“‹ Dashboard Tool Comparison

Feature Gradio Gradio Lite Streamlit Plotly Dash HTML Page
Ease of Use β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† – beginner friendly β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… – very easy β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† – Python-focused β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† – more complex setup β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜† – requires coding skills
Interactivity Moderate – inputs, outputs, plots Basic to moderate – depends on browser High – live widgets, real-time updates High – advanced interactive layouts Varies – depends on JS and libraries
Deployment Needs None (runs in notebook or share link) None (runs fully in browser) Requires server/cloud Requires server/cloud Requires static site or server
Best For ML demos, quick tools Lightweight static dashboards Custom data apps, internal dashboards Enterprise apps, dashboards with layout control Fully custom interfaces
Runs in Notebook? βœ… Yes 🚫 No 🚫 No 🚫 No 🚫 No
Output Format Notebook interface or shareable link Single HTML file Hosted web app Hosted web app HTML / CSS / JS files
Secure IP? βœ… Code stays server-side ❌ Code is visible in browser βœ… Code runs server-side βœ… Code runs server-side ❌ Code is fully exposed
Performance Note Fast in Colab or Jupyter May load slowly (loads all in browser) Responsive with server Good performance with server setup Depends on implementation

Legend:

  • 🎯 Ease of Use: How beginner-friendly the tool is
  • πŸ”„ Interactivity: Dynamic capabilities (e.g., filters, charts)
  • πŸš€ Deployment Requirements: What’s needed to share it online
  • πŸ“¦ Output Format: How the final dashboard is delivered
  • πŸ”’ Secure IP?: Whether your backend logic and code remain private

πŸ” Deployment Considerations

While all of these tools are powerful, deploying dashboards online often involves hosting infrastructure or sharing code. If your work includes proprietary models, business logic, or licensed data, consider the implications of making that code public πŸ’‘

  • βœ… Gradio is ideal for quick demos in notebooks and allows controlled sharing (e.g., with private links).

  • ⚠️ Gradio Lite is fast and easy for embedding, but:

    • Your code and logic are fully exposed in the HTML
    • All libraries and data are loaded in the user’s browser, which may result in slower performance for large files or models

In this module, we’ll focus on:

  • 🎨 Gradio β€” Run and test dashboards directly inside Jupyter or Google Colab
  • ✨ Gradio Lite β€” Export your dashboard as a single .html file that can be embedded or shared, with no backend setup required

These tools let you rapidly prototype and publish interactive dashboards with minimal effortβ€”just keep in mind the trade-offs between ease of deployment and control over your intellectual property πŸ”’