Gantt Chart Generator

A tiny vibe coded python app using GPT4.1 and Claude 3.7 Sonnet.

What is this project all about?

This project is a lightweight Python-based tool for generating professional, presentation-ready Gantt charts from a simple CSV file. It visualizes project activities, phases, status (On track, Delayed, Risk, Not Yet started), and completion percentage (Progress) in a single, color-coded timeline. The chart highlights the current date, distinguishes future activities, and groups tasks by project phase for easy tracking and reporting. The output is a high-resolution image suitable for presentations and documentation[2].

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How to install and use it

1. Clone or Download the Repository

Download the script and place it in your working directory.

2. Install Required Packages

Ensure you have Python 3.7+ and install the required libraries:

pip install -r requirements.txt (from this project directory)

or

pip install pandas plotly kaleido

• pandas: For data handling
• plotly: For advanced, interactive charting
• kaleido: For exporting charts as images

3. Prepare the Input File

Create a CSV file named project_activities.csv (or any name you prefer). The file should have the following columns:

Activity,Phase,Status,Start Date,End Date,Progress
Design,Planning,On track,2025-05-01,2025-05-09,100
Development,Execution,Delayed,2025-05-10,2025-05-19,60
Testing,Execution,Risk,2025-05-20,2025-05-30,30
Deployment,Closure,Not Yet started,2025-06-01,2025-06-10,0
Documentation,Closure,Not Yet started,2025-06-05,2025-06-15,0
Hypercare,Support,Future,2025-06-05,2025-07-15,0
Post-Sales,Support,Future,2025-07-15,2025-07-20,0

• Activity: Name of the task
• Phase: Project phase (e.g., Planning, Execution, Closure)
• Status: One of On track, Delayed, Risk, Not Yet started
• Start Date/End Date: In YYYY-MM-DD format
• Progress: Completion percentage (0–100)

4. Run the Script

Update the project_start_date variable in the script if needed (format: YYYY-MM-DD).
Then, run the script: python your_script_name.py

The script will:

• Read your CSV file
• Generate a visually appealing Gantt chart with color-coded bars and a "Today" line
• Save the chart as gantt_chart.png in your working directory

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How to Customize

• Input File: Add, remove, or modify activities, phases, statuses, and progress as your project evolves.
• Project Start Date: Change project_start_date in the script to adjust the timeline anchor.
• Colors and Styles: Edit the status_colors dictionary and layout settings in the script for different color schemes or branding.
• Output File: Change the output_file parameter to save the chart with a custom name or location.
• Chart Size: Adjust the height and width parameters in the script for larger or smaller images.

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Troubleshooting

• Ensure your input file uses valid date formats and all required columns.
• If you see only the "Today" line and no bars, check that your activity dates are correct and not all in the past or future.
• For further customization, refer to the Plotly documentation or modify the script as needed.

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Example

After running the script, you will get a chart similar to this (sample output):

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This tool is ideal for project managers, engineers, and anyone needing a fast, customizable way to visualize project timelines and progress in documentation or presentations[2] without spending money on subscriptions and sending project data for training someone else's models. If not, this is for those who think making your own stuff (even with AI) is still cool!