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Comparison · Analytics
performance vs OpenMC
A side-by-side editorial comparison of performance and OpenMC — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
performance vs OpenMC: at a glance
What is performance?
performance keeps adding ways to check a model you have already fitted.
performance is at 0.17.1, which added check_priors() for prior predictive checks on Bayesian models and gave check_overdispersion(), check_model() and check_predictions() arguments to control residual type and plot range. The releases before it are a similar mix: a -2LL criterion column in test_likelihoodratio(), Bayesian predictive checks routed through modelbased, and in 0.16.0 a set of breaking renames including RMSA to the correct RMSR.
What is OpenMC?
OpenMC's random ray solver has gone from new arrival to the centre of every release
OpenMC is a Monte Carlo particle transport code for neutronics and radiation analysis. Since the random ray transport solver landed in 0.15.0 it has received substantial work in every subsequent release, most recently local adjoint sources, temperature and distributed-density feedback, fission-heating tallies and a weight-window bootstrapping workflow. The other consistent thread is shutdown-dose and depletion tooling, where 0.15.3 introduced an R2SManager to automate the rigorous two-step workflow and 0.16.0 extended it with reactivity control, CRAM substeps and multiple meshes.
performance vs OpenMC: editorial side-by-side
performance
0.0ANALYTICS
performance keeps adding ways to check a model you have already fitted.
◆ Current state
performance is at 0.17.1, which added check_priors() for prior predictive checks on Bayesian models and gave check_overdispersion(), check_model() and check_predictions() arguments to control residual type and plot range. The releases before it are a similar mix: a -2LL criterion column in test_likelihoodratio(), Bayesian predictive checks routed through modelbased, and in 0.16.0 a set of breaking renames including RMSA to the correct RMSR.
◆ Where it's heading
Two consistent habits. Diagnostics keep gaining arguments to narrow what is examined — ppc_range, x_limits, maximum_dots, show_ci — which reads as a package being used on models large and awkward enough that the defaults stopped working. And simulated residuals via DHARMa keep displacing standard ones as the basis for the checks themselves.
◆ Prediction
With check_priors() newly added and Bayesian predictive checks now routed through modelbased, the next release most likely extends the Bayesian diagnostic set rather than reworking the frequentist checks.
OpenMC
2.5ANALYTICS
OpenMC's random ray solver has gone from new arrival to the centre of every release
◆ Current state
OpenMC is a Monte Carlo particle transport code for neutronics and radiation analysis. Since the random ray transport solver landed in 0.15.0 it has received substantial work in every subsequent release, most recently local adjoint sources, temperature and distributed-density feedback, fission-heating tallies and a weight-window bootstrapping workflow. The other consistent thread is shutdown-dose and depletion tooling, where 0.15.3 introduced an R2SManager to automate the rigorous two-step workflow and 0.16.0 extended it with reactivity control, CRAM substeps and multiple meshes.
◆ Where it's heading
The project is layering a deterministic-adjacent solver alongside its Monte Carlo core rather than replacing it, and the ratio of random-ray work to core-solver work in each release keeps rising. In parallel it is packaging expert workflows into objects — R2SManager is the clearest case, turning a multi-stage shutdown dose calculation into a class rather than a recipe. The Python API is where most of that packaging surfaces, and it is also where the compatibility breaks land, with the minimum version moving to 3.12 in 0.16.0.
◆ Prediction
Given that every release since 0.15.0 has expanded the random ray solver's feedback and tally coverage, the next is likely to continue closing the gap between it and the main solver's feature set. The notes do not indicate whether it is intended to become a default path.
Alternatives to performance and OpenMC
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 performance or OpenMC.
modeltime
modeltime built conformal intervals in, then went quiet on features.
cmdstanpy
CmdStanPy is clearing deprecations ahead of a 2.0 it keeps announcing.
dowhy
DoWhy adds one estimation method a year and keeps its identification edge.
OpenHouse
OpenHouse is hardening the seams where table policies and jobs quietly fail.
silx
silx 3.0 moved its default Qt binding to PySide6 — a migration for everyone embedding it.
See all performance alternatives → · See all OpenMC alternatives →
Recent activity from performance and OpenMC
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 6d agoOpenMCSurface-flux tallies and PDG particle identifiers in OpenMC 0.16.0
- 1mo agoperformancecheck_priors() added; overdispersion plots use simulated residuals
- 2mo agoperformance-2LL criterion column and unified Bayesian predictive checks
- 6mo agoperformanceBreaking renames plus point-count and CI controls in check_model()
- 8mo agoperformancecheck_autocorrelation() methods for DHARMa objects
- 8mo agoOpenMCR2SManager automates shutdown dose rate calculations in OpenMC 0.15.3
- 10mo agoperformanceFixes CRAN checks after an rstanarm update
- 11mo agoperformancetinytable output format in display()
- 1y agoOpenMCOpenMC 0.15.2 hotfixes an MPI regression
- 1y agoOpenMCRay-traced material volumes and Phong-shaded plots in OpenMC 0.15.1
- 2y agoOpenMCOpenMC 0.15.0 introduces a random ray transport solver ⚡
- 2y agoOpenMCWeight window generation and continuous nuclide feed in OpenMC 0.14.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between performance and OpenMC?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. OpenMC is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 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 performance better than OpenMC?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. OpenMC is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 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 performance?
Top performance alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "performance alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/easystats-performance for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to OpenMC?
Top OpenMC alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenMC alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openmc for the full list with editorial commentary on each.