# 1.2 Compatibility with gnuplot

Pyxplot’s plotting interface is very similar to that of gnuplot: the commands used for plotting simple graphs in the two programs are virtually identical. Gnuplot users will have a head start with Pyxplot – simple gnuplot scripts often work in Pyxplot with minimal modification – although the syntax used for advanced plotting tasks often differs. Although Pyxplot’s programming and mathematical environment is hugely extended over gnuplot’s to provide a scripting language and vector graphics environment, we have followed the latter’s preference for short simple command line syntax.