diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a60b85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
diff --git a/environment.yml b/environment.yml
index 518cf63..71fc642 100644
--- a/environment.yml
+++ b/environment.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ dependencies:
   - scipy=1.10.1
   - pip
   - pip:
+      - colorcet
+      - git+https://github.com/holoviz/datashader.git
       - ipykernel==6.29.5
       - ipython==8.18.0
       - ipython-genutils==0.2.0
diff --git a/server/scatterplot_server.py b/server/scatterplot_server.py
index cf2d9c7..479775e 100644
--- a/server/scatterplot_server.py
+++ b/server/scatterplot_server.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 import anndata as ad
 import pandas as pd
 import spac.visualization
+from utils.datashader_utils import scatter_heatmap
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
 
 def scatterplot_server(input, output, session, shared):
@@ -120,22 +122,33 @@ def spac_Scatter():
         x = get_scatterplot_coordinates_x()
         y = get_scatterplot_coordinates_y()
         color_enabled = input.scatter_color_check()
+        heatmap_mode = input.scatter_heatmap_mode()
         x_label = input.scatter_x()
         y_label = input.scatter_y()
         title = f"Scatterplot: {x_label} vs {y_label}"
 
-        if color_enabled:
-            fig, ax = spac.visualization.visualize_2D_scatter(
-                x, y, labels=get_color_values()
-            )
-            for a in fig.axes:
-                if hasattr(a, "get_ylabel") and a != ax:
-                    a.set_ylabel(f"Colored by: {input.scatter_color()}")
+        if heatmap_mode:
+            color = get_color_values() if color_enabled else None
+            img = scatter_heatmap(x, y, color)
+            fig, ax = plt.subplots(figsize=(8, 6))
+            ax.imshow(img, aspect='auto')
+            ax.set_title(title, fontsize=14)
+            ax.set_xlabel(x_label)
+            ax.set_ylabel(y_label)
+            ax.axis('on')  # Show axes
+            return fig
         else:
-            fig, ax = spac.visualization.visualize_2D_scatter(x, y)
-
-        ax.set_title(title, fontsize=14)
-        ax.set_xlabel(x_label)
-        ax.set_ylabel(y_label)
+            if color_enabled:
+                fig, ax = spac.visualization.visualize_2D_scatter(
+                    x, y, labels=get_color_values()
+                )
+                for a in fig.axes:
+                    if hasattr(a, "get_ylabel") and a != ax:
+                        a.set_ylabel(f"Colored by: {input.scatter_color()}")
+            else:
+                fig, ax = spac.visualization.visualize_2D_scatter(x, y)
 
-        return ax
+            ax.set_title(title, fontsize=14)
+            ax.set_xlabel(x_label)
+            ax.set_ylabel(y_label)
+            return ax
diff --git a/ui/scatterplot_ui.py b/ui/scatterplot_ui.py
index a552a63..6c97823 100644
--- a/ui/scatterplot_ui.py
+++ b/ui/scatterplot_ui.py
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ def scatterplot_ui():
                             "Color by Feature",
                             value=False
                         ),
+                        ui.input_checkbox(
+                            "scatter_heatmap_mode",
+                            "Show as Heatmap",
+                            value=False
+                        ),
                         ui.div(id="main-scatter_dropdown"),
                         ui.input_action_button(
                             "go_scatter",
diff --git a/utils/datashader_utils.py b/utils/datashader_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f232b18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/utils/datashader_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import pandas as pd
+import datashader as ds
+import datashader.transfer_functions as tf
+from colorcet import fire
+
+def scatter_heatmap(x, y, color=None, width=800, height=600):
+    df = pd.DataFrame({'x': x, 'y': y})
+    cvs = ds.Canvas(plot_width=width, plot_height=height)
+    if color is not None:
+        df['color'] = color
+        agg = cvs.points(df, 'x', 'y', ds.mean('color'))
+        img = tf.shade(agg, cmap=fire, how='eq_hist')
+    else:
+        agg = cvs.points(df, 'x', 'y', ds.count())
+        img = tf.shade(agg, cmap=fire)
+    return img.to_pil()
\ No newline at end of file