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Comparison · Analytics

cfrnow vs oblicubes

A side-by-side editorial comparison of cfrnow and oblicubes — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

cfrnow vs oblicubes: at a glance

Featurecfrnowoblicubes
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score5.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesepidemiology, bayesian-modelling, cfr-estimation, r-packager, data-viz, grid-graphics, ggplot2
Last editorial update8h ago1h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is cfrnow?

A Bayesian real-time CFR estimator that now ships stratified fits and posterior-predictive checks

cfrnow estimates case fatality ratios from line-list data while an outbreak is still running, using a Bayesian mixture-cure survival model registered as an `epidist` model type. Three releases in a month took it from first public release to stratified, partially-pooled fits with posterior-predictive checking. It leans on `distspec` for delay parameterisation, which reached CRAN alongside the 0.2.1 patch.

Read the full cfrnow trajectory →

What is oblicubes?

A tiny grid renderer for oblique-projection cubes, complete since its first release.

oblicubes draws 3D cubes and cuboids in oblique projection as grid grobs, with ggplot2 geom wrappers and a height-matrix helper for turning elevation data into coordinates. The entire feature set arrived in the initial 0.1.2 release, adapted from coolbutuseless's isocubes and cj-holmes's isocuboids. The two releases since have widened compatibility rather than added anything.

Read the full oblicubes trajectory →

cfrnow vs oblicubes: editorial side-by-side

C
cfrnow
ANALYTICS
5.0

A Bayesian real-time CFR estimator that now ships stratified fits and posterior-predictive checks

◆ Current state

cfrnow estimates case fatality ratios from line-list data while an outbreak is still running, using a Bayesian mixture-cure survival model registered as an `epidist` model type. Three releases in a month took it from first public release to stratified, partially-pooled fits with posterior-predictive checking. It leans on `distspec` for delay parameterisation, which reached CRAN alongside the 0.2.1 patch.

◆ Where it's heading

The arc runs from producing a single corrected CFR number toward supporting a full model-checking workflow. 0.2.0 added the pieces a modeller needs to defend an estimate: replicate line lists replayed through the real-time truncation, an ascertainment-ratio correction for when fatal and non-fatal cases enter the line list at different rates, and per-group CFRs from `brms` formulas. Delay coverage widened from LogNormal and Gamma to Weibull in the same release.

◆ Prediction

Expect the next release to keep widening covariate and pooling support rather than adding new outcome types, since every 0.2.0 addition extended the existing formula interface instead of replacing it.

O
oblicubes
ANALYTICS
0.0

A tiny grid renderer for oblique-projection cubes, complete since its first release.

◆ Current state

oblicubes draws 3D cubes and cuboids in oblique projection as grid grobs, with ggplot2 geom wrappers and a height-matrix helper for turning elevation data into coordinates. The entire feature set arrived in the initial 0.1.2 release, adapted from coolbutuseless's isocubes and cj-holmes's isocuboids. The two releases since have widened compatibility rather than added anything.

◆ Where it's heading

The package is finished and its maintainer is treating it that way. 1.0.0 removed the R 4.1 native pipe from examples specifically so earlier R versions could use it — reaching backward, not forward — and added image alt text. The only change since is swapping a deprecated dplyr call in examples.

◆ Prediction

Expect nothing beyond occasional dependency deprecation fixes; the release pattern shows a small, deliberately complete package being kept installable.

Alternatives to cfrnow and oblicubes

Other Analytics products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either cfrnow or oblicubes.

See all cfrnow alternatives → · See all oblicubes alternatives →

Recent activity from cfrnow and oblicubes

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 5d agocfrnowdistspec dependency moves to CRAN
  2. 6d agocfrnowStratified CFR fits, Weibull delays, posterior-predictive checks
  3. 1mo agocfrnowFirst release: real-time CFR from a Bayesian mixture-cure model
  4. 6mo agooblicubesExamples updated to dplyr::reframe()
  5. 1y agooblicubesR 4.1 pipe removed from examples; image alt text added
  6. 3y agooblicubesInitial release: oblique-projection cube and cuboid grobs

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between cfrnow and oblicubes?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. cfrnow is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is cfrnow better than oblicubes?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. cfrnow is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to cfrnow?

Top cfrnow alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "cfrnow alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/cfrnow for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to oblicubes?

Top oblicubes alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "oblicubes alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/oblicubes-r for the full list with editorial commentary on each.