← Back to home
Comparison · Analytics

detectseparation vs soilDBdata

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

detectseparation vs soilDBdata: at a glance

FeaturedetectseparationsoilDBdata
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesr-package, regression, diagnostics, separationsoil data, test fixtures, nasis, data package
Last editorial update54m ago3h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is detectseparation?

A diagnostic package that generalized past its own name, then learned to say which kind of separation it found

detectseparation identifies separation and infinite estimates in binomial-response GLMs — the condition where maximum likelihood estimates diverge and standard software reports large coefficients with enormous standard errors instead of an error. Version 0.3 was the structural turn: detect_infinite_estimates() became the general method covering log, logit, probit and cauchit links, with detect_separation() demoted to a wrapper around it. Version 0.4 in April 2026 adds the ability to distinguish complete from quasi-complete separation via separation_type.

Read the full detectseparation trajectory →

What is soilDBdata?

soilDBdata exists so soilDB's tests can run without a NASIS connection.

soilDBdata is a data-only package supplying NASIS and gSSURGO sample datasets as .sqlite assets, installed separately by soilDB's GitHub Actions so unit tests that would otherwise need database access can run. It began as a proof of concept carrying MT663 pedon and component tables used in soil survey coursework, and its most recent release adds a Marshall Islands FY26 gSSURGO dataset. Releases are infrequent and driven by what the parent package needs to test.

Read the full soilDBdata trajectory →

detectseparation vs soilDBdata: editorial side-by-side

D0.0

A diagnostic package that generalized past its own name, then learned to say which kind of separation it found

◆ Current state

detectseparation identifies separation and infinite estimates in binomial-response GLMs — the condition where maximum likelihood estimates diverge and standard software reports large coefficients with enormous standard errors instead of an error. Version 0.3 was the structural turn: detect_infinite_estimates() became the general method covering log, logit, probit and cauchit links, with detect_separation() demoted to a wrapper around it. Version 0.4 in April 2026 adds the ability to distinguish complete from quasi-complete separation via separation_type.

◆ Where it's heading

The package has been generalizing steadily — first past its own framing, since separation is one case of infinite estimates rather than the whole problem, and now toward finer classification of what it detects. The distinction 0.4 adds is practically useful because complete and quasi-complete separation call for different responses. Release intervals are long, roughly two to four years, which fits a diagnostic tool whose underlying theory is settled.

◆ Prediction

With link coverage broad and separation now classified by type, further work is more likely to refine reporting than to extend detection to new model families.

S
soilDBdata
ANALYTICS
0.0

soilDBdata exists so soilDB's tests can run without a NASIS connection.

◆ Current state

soilDBdata is a data-only package supplying NASIS and gSSURGO sample datasets as .sqlite assets, installed separately by soilDB's GitHub Actions so unit tests that would otherwise need database access can run. It began as a proof of concept carrying MT663 pedon and component tables used in soil survey coursework, and its most recent release adds a Marshall Islands FY26 gSSURGO dataset. Releases are infrequent and driven by what the parent package needs to test.

◆ Where it's heading

Development follows soilDB rather than leading it: assets get bumped when a soilDB version changes, and purpose lists are updated when soilDB adds a table. The one release that changed what testing is possible was v0.1.1, which added selected-set _View_1 tables alongside whole tables so both SS=TRUE and SS=FALSE code paths could be exercised. Four-year gaps between releases are normal here and do not indicate abandonment — a fixture package only needs to move when the fixtures go stale.

◆ Prediction

The recent addition is a new geography rather than a new table structure, so further releases most likely continue broadening dataset coverage as soilDB gains regions to test against.

Alternatives to detectseparation and soilDBdata

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 detectseparation or soilDBdata.

See all detectseparation alternatives → · See all soilDBdata alternatives →

Recent activity from detectseparation and soilDBdata

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

  1. 3mo agosoilDBdataMarshall Islands FY26 gSSURGO dataset added
  2. 3mo agodetectseparationdetectseparation v0.4
  3. 1y agosoilDBdataMT663 fixtures refreshed for soilDB 2.8.3
  4. 1y agosoilDBdataNASIS purpose lists updated for siteothvegclass
  5. 3y agodetectseparationdetectseparation v0.3
  6. 4y agosoilDBdataSelected-set _View_1 tables enable SS=TRUE/FALSE testing
  7. 4y agosoilDBdataProof of concept: MT663 pedon and component .sqlite fixtures
  8. 5y agodetectseparationdetectseparation v0.2

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between detectseparation and soilDBdata?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. detectseparation and soilDBdata are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is detectseparation better than soilDBdata?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. detectseparation and soilDBdata are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Analytics products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to detectseparation?

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

What are the best alternatives to soilDBdata?

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