7 Promising JavaScript Timeline Components to Improve Your Project Management App
Tags: javascript, html, webdev, productivity
Published: 2022-06-29 14:31:11

A timeline is a convenient visual tool allowing users to allocate resources properly over time. 

On this page, you’ll find out 7 JavaScript libraries to implement a timeline in your project. The list includes Gantt chart, event calendar, and ordinary timeline chart components. You can choose the most convenient option or expand the list by adding your favorite oft-used tools in the comments below. Let’s start!

##DHTMLX Gantt

![dhtmlx-gantt-timeline](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jflh7pvrh1bhecp0u4f1.png)
[DHTMLX Gantt](https://dhtmlx.com/docs/products/dhtmlxGantt/) is one of the most complete JavaScript libraries for developing Gantt charts. It offers a wide variety of time configuration features for the timeline where users can schedule tasks, allocate them between team members, and monitor their completion. 

The component greatly simplifies project management by specifying dependencies between tasks, calculating the critical path, and automatically updating the project schedule. Users can manage tasks via drag-n-drop, group tasks by resources, and filter tasks by priority or assignee. DHTMLX Gantt supports smart rendering and allows exporting data from MS Project, Excel, PDF, PNG, and iCal. 

You can apply CSS classes to style your Gantt chart elements, use templates to change the format of displayed dates and labels, or choose one of the predefined skins.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://docs.dhtmlx.com/gantt/), [samples](https://docs.dhtmlx.com/gantt/samples/) 

Pricing: from $699

Trial version: [DHTMLX Gantt](https://dhtmlx.com/docs/products/dhtmlxGantt/download.shtml)

##DHTMLX Scheduler
![javascript-scheduler-timeline](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kuw3jyjhcroilwoj8tlo.png)
[DHTMLX Scheduler](https://dhtmlx.com/docs/products/dhtmlxScheduler/) is a pure JavaScript library for developing responsive event calendars with 10 views and a set of handy features. The timeline view allows users to create an unlimited number of events within a horizontally scrollable layout and edit their duration via drag-n-drop. Besides, users can create recurring events and multisection events that can be assigned to several resources.

With DHTMLX Scheduler, you can optimize the performance of the timeline with the help of smart rendering. Instead of loading all the timeline elements at once, the feature allows rendering only the rows, columns, and events displayed on the screen.

You can configure the timeline appearance via the rich Scheduler API. For example, you can set the start date and step size for the time scale, add custom HTML content to the timeline cells, and apply custom sorting rules. Moreover, you can choose one of the predefined skins or apply custom styling via CSS.

DHTMLX Scheduler supports Google Maps integration and can be exported to Excel, PDF, PNG, and iCal. Moreover, you can sync DHTMLX Scheduler with the Gantt chart library thus building a complete project management app.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://docs.dhtmlx.com/scheduler/timeline_view.html#dynamicshangeofproperties), [samples](https://docs.dhtmlx.com/scheduler/samples/06_timeline/)

Pricing: from $599

Trial version: [DHTMLX Scheduler](https://dhtmlx.com/docs/products/dhtmlxScheduler/download.shtml)

##Mobiscroll Scheduler

![mobiscroll-timeline](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2aljsz8wq1y2bjek1h7x.png)
[Mobiscroll](https://mobiscroll.com/event-calendar-scheduler) allows building an event calendar with a horizontally scrollable timeline view. It supports CRUD operations and allows manipulating events via drag-n-drop. Users can create recurring events and group resources of the same types to simplify events management.

The timeline provides print-optimized styling via the print add-on. It can be installed separately from a dedicated npm package or included in the download package.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://docs.mobiscroll.com/javascript/eventcalendar#timeline-view), [samples](https://demo.mobiscroll.com/javascript/timeline/month-view#) 

Pricing: from $595 for the full toolset for scheduling

Trial version: [Mobiscroll Timeline](https://demo.mobiscroll.com/javascript/timeline/month-view#)

##DayPilot Scheduler

![daypilot-scheduler-timeline](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hbw72bm1cl1osyth5tu5.png)

[DayPilot scheduler](https://www.daypilot.org/) component provides a timeline view to manage multiple resources. It supports drag-n-drop, dynamic event loading, and image export to SVG, PNG, and JPEG. The tool also provides such handy built-in UI elements, as message bar, event status icons, and action hints.

The scheduler includes 6 built-in themes and supports full CSS styling. However, you can use the online UI Builder configurator to create and download a project with selected configurations.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://doc.daypilot.org/scheduler/timeline/), [samples](https://javascript.daypilot.org/demo/scheduler/)

Pricing: from $549

Trial version: [DayPilot Scheduler](https://javascript.daypilot.org/try/)

##DevExtreme Scheduler

![devexttreme-timeline-javascript](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xoi7mzgvcka2bveranfv.png)


The [DevExtreme Scheduler](https://js.devexpress.com/Overview/Scheduler/) provides a timeline view with timezone support. Users can create new events, resize them, and arrange them between timeline cells via drag-n-drop. The component allows grouping events, e.g. by resources, creating recurring appointments, and exporting data from the different online services, including Google Calendar.

DevExtreme provides custom templates for the whole timeline as well as for event shapes and tooltips. Besides, you can configure the timeline appearance by disabling specific dates, manipulating the view duration, and setting the number of events displayed in a cell.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://js.devexpress.com/Demos/WidgetsGallery/Demo/Scheduler/Timelines/jQuery/Light/)

Pricing: from $499 for the full DevExtreme library

Trial version: [DevExtreme Scheduler](https://js.devexpress.com/Download/)

##Google Timeline Chart

![google-timeline-chart](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9szbpzzqn6qqdu6cqu0b.png)

With a Google timeline chart, you can visualize a set of resources that are used over time. The tool allows adding labels to the row bars that can be abbreviated or deleted depending on the bar size. However, you’re free to add tooltips with more detailed information that appear when hovering over a bar.

You can also tailor the timeline appearance by changing fonts and repainting its bars and background. It’s possible to configure all bars of the same row to have the same color as well as paint row bars depending on their label. Besides, Google Timeline adds tiny margins to bar endpoints to avoid overlapped gridlines.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://developers.google.com/chart/interactive/docs/gallery/timeline)

Pricing: free of charge

Trial version: no trial version provided

##Vis.js Timeline Chart

![js-timeline-chart](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/63piqhcmus4wzmm6lddj.png)

[Vis.js](https://visjs.org/) is an open-source JavaScript library offering different types of basic charts and network diagrams. One of them is Vis Timeline which allows mapping events on a linear timeline.

Vis Timeline comes with a set of useful features. Users can create items with a single date or a date range, edit or delete them right in the timeline. They can also move across the timeline by dragging and scrolling. The timescale is automatically adjusted and supports scales ranging from milliseconds to years.

There are ways to customize your timeline appearance. For example, you can change the border and background color, tailor grid backgrounds, and add custom CSS classes to different event items.

Useful resources: [documentation](https://github.com/visjs/vis-timeline), [samples](https://visjs.github.io/vis-timeline/examples/timeline/)

Pricing: free of charge

Trial version: no trial version provided