RMVMR
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Comparison · Analytics
cfrnow vs scoringutils
A side-by-side editorial comparison of cfrnow and scoringutils — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:epidemiology
cfrnow vs scoringutils: at a glance
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.
What is scoringutils?
scoringutils pushes forecast scoring past univariate outcomes into multivariate and ordinal ones.
scoringutils evaluates probabilistic forecasts in R. Since the 2.0.0 rewrite it is organised around typed forecast objects — quantile, sample, binary, point, nominal — built by as_forecast_<type>() constructors and scored through S3 methods. Version 2.2.0 adds multivariate sample and point types with the variogram score, and 2.1.0 added ordinal forecasts.
cfrnow vs scoringutils: editorial side-by-side
cfrnow
5.0ANALYTICS
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.
scoringutils
0.0ANALYTICS
scoringutils pushes forecast scoring past univariate outcomes into multivariate and ordinal ones.
◆ Current state
scoringutils evaluates probabilistic forecasts in R. Since the 2.0.0 rewrite it is organised around typed forecast objects — quantile, sample, binary, point, nominal — built by as_forecast_<type>() constructors and scored through S3 methods. Version 2.2.0 adds multivariate sample and point types with the variogram score, and 2.1.0 added ordinal forecasts.
◆ Where it's heading
The forecast-type system introduced in 2.0.0 is the engine of everything since: each release fits another outcome shape into it rather than reworking the scoring interface. Multivariate support is the largest of those additions because it scores the dependence structure between variables, not just marginal accuracy. Type and constructor names are still being reconciled — forecast_sample_multivariate was renamed to forecast_multivariate_sample with a deprecation window.
◆ Prediction
Expect further forecast types and metrics slotted into the same constructor pattern, and the deprecated forecast_sample_multivariate alias and is_forecast_sample_multivariate() to be removed once that window closes.
Alternatives to cfrnow and scoringutils
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 scoringutils.
geoarrow-r
geoarrow tracks the GeoArrow spec and otherwise just keeps compiling
n2khab
n2khab keeps retracting interpretations of habitat data it can't actually support
tidypolars
tidypolars is grinding toward complete dplyr coverage, one supported function at a time
OneSampleMR
OneSampleMR found that argument order in a formula was silently changing its estimates
bpbounds
bpbounds found the same swapped-cell bug twice and clamped its bounds back into range
See all cfrnow alternatives → · See all scoringutils alternatives →
Recent activity from cfrnow and scoringutils
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 5d agocfrnowdistspec dependency moves to CRAN
- 5d agocfrnowStratified CFR fits, Weibull delays, posterior-predictive checks
- 1mo agocfrnowFirst release: real-time CFR from a Bayesian mixture-cure model ⚡
- 4mo agoscoringutilsMultivariate forecast scoring and the variogram score ⚡
- 11mo agoscoringutilsQuantile levels rounded to avoid float duplicates
- 1y agoscoringutilsOptional p-values in pairwise comparisons; PIT fix
- 1y agoscoringutilsOrdinal forecasts get their own class and metrics
- 1y agoscoringutilsRewrite: typed forecast objects and pluggable metrics ⚡
- 2y agoscoringutilsTwo bug fixes and package-site infrastructure
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cfrnow and scoringutils?
Both compete on the same themes — epidemiology — within Analytics. 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 scoringutils?
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 scoringutils?
Top scoringutils alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "scoringutils alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/scoringutils for the full list with editorial commentary on each.