Light Chaser is an open-source, lightweight data visualization design platform engineered for large screen displays, data reports, and complex data analysis scenarios. It functions as a robust visual design foundation rather than a simple page assembler. By integrating component orchestration, blueprint-style interaction, external data source connectivity, comprehensive resource management, and project export capabilities into a single, cohesive workflow, it empowers engineers and power users to rapidly construct and deliver sophisticated data visualization products.

How It Works

The project adopts a unified monorepo architecture, consolidating the frontend designer (built with React 18, Vite 5, and MobX) and the backend service (developed in Java 17 using Spring Boot 3.2.5 and MyBatis Plus) within a single codebase. This approach simplifies development, debugging, building, and deployment processes. Its core methodology centers on an intuitive drag-and-drop interface for effortless component placement, resizing, and attribute configuration on a canvas. A distinctive blueprint-style interaction system enables the visual definition and organization of complex event linkages, data flow logic, and node relationships, making intricate functionalities more manageable. Integrated AI-assisted design features further enhance the workflow through model management, style optimization, and data optimization capabilities.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Environment Prerequisites: Node.js, pnpm package manager, Java Development Kit (version 17 or higher), and Apache Maven (version 3.6 or higher) are required.
• Backend Service: Navigate to the backend directory and execute mvn spring-boot:run. The service defaults to listening on http://localhost:8080.
• Frontend Designer: Change directory to frontend, run pnpm install to install dependencies, followed by pnpm dev to start the development server, accessible at http://localhost:5173.
• Documentation & Demos: An online demo of the Pro version is available at http://www.lcdesigner.cn/. Further details on the Pro version can be found at https://lcpdesigner.cn/home, with desktop downloads at https://lcpdesigner.cn/download. Comprehensive development guides, deployment tutorials, and operational manuals are located within the docs/ directory.

Highlighted Details

• Monorepo Architecture: Unifying frontend and backend codebases within a single repository significantly reduces cross-repository collaboration overhead and simplifies maintenance.
• Blueprint Interaction System: A visual, node-based editor for defining complex event triggers, data transformations, and inter-component communication, enhancing clarity for intricate logic.
• AI-Assisted Design: Incorporates AI for model management, visual style optimization, and data optimization. Note that AI data optimization in the open-source version is restricted to static, API, and database data source types.
• Data Source Management: Features a dedicated interface for managing external data sources, including connection testing and maintenance.
• Deployment Flexibility: Offers robust deployment options including local development, static hosting via Nginx, containerization with Docker, and orchestration with Docker Compose, complemented by a unified deployment script (scripts/deploy-same-origin.js).

Maintenance & Community

The project actively encourages community involvement through Issues and Pull Requests. While specific core contributors or corporate sponsorships are not explicitly listed, the project acknowledges donors and sponsors. Donations are encouraged, offering access to the proprietary "Pro" version. Community interaction is primarily facilitated via a group chat, with no direct link provided in the README. The "Pro" version is specifically targeted towards enterprise scenarios demanding team collaboration, granular permissions, and robust business-oriented delivery capabilities.

Licensing & Compatibility

The project is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license. Crucially, a prominent disclaimer states: "This project is for learning and exchange only, commercial use must obtain authorization first." This explicit restriction imposes significant limitations on commercial deployment and integration, overriding the permissive nature typically associated with the Apache 2.0 license.

Limitations & Caveats

The most critical adoption blocker is the explicit prohibition of commercial use without prior authorization, a significant constraint despite the Apache 2.0 license. Advanced features related to team collaboration, user permissions, and business-level delivery appear to be exclusive to the "Pro" version, suggesting the open-source release serves primarily as an evaluation or learning tool. Furthermore, AI-driven data optimization capabilities are limited to specific data source types within the open-source iteration.