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EpiNow2 vs OneSampleMR

A side-by-side editorial comparison of EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:epidemiology

EpiNow2 vs OneSampleMR: at a glance

FeatureEpiNow2OneSampleMR
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesepidemiology, bayesian-modelling, reproduction-number, r-packagemendelian randomization, r, instrumental variables, epidemiology
Last editorial update3h ago1h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is EpiNow2?

EpiNow2 unified its model interface, then went back to deepen the estimators behind it

EpiNow2 estimates reproduction numbers, infections and delay distributions from incomplete epidemiological reporting data. 1.8.0 was the structural turning point: every main modelling function now returns a consistent S3 object with `fit`, `args` and `observations`, reachable through shared accessors. The releases either side of it work on estimator quality — accumulation of irregularly reported data in 1.7.0, and a substantial expansion of `estimate_truncation()` in 1.9.0.

Read the full EpiNow2 trajectory →

What is OneSampleMR?

OneSampleMR found that argument order in a formula was silently changing its estimates

OneSampleMR implements one-sample Mendelian randomization estimators — two-stage predictor substitution, two-stage residual inclusion, and Sanderson-Windmeijer conditional F statistics for instrument strength. The package spent its first years on packaging and dependency upkeep. The 2026 releases turn to substance: broader support for models fitted elsewhere, then a correctness fix for a defect that depended on nothing more than where covariates appeared in a formula.

Read the full OneSampleMR trajectory →

EpiNow2 vs OneSampleMR: editorial side-by-side

E
EpiNow2
ANALYTICS
0.0

EpiNow2 unified its model interface, then went back to deepen the estimators behind it

◆ Current state

EpiNow2 estimates reproduction numbers, infections and delay distributions from incomplete epidemiological reporting data. 1.8.0 was the structural turning point: every main modelling function now returns a consistent S3 object with `fit`, `args` and `observations`, reachable through shared accessors. The releases either side of it work on estimator quality — accumulation of irregularly reported data in 1.7.0, and a substantial expansion of `estimate_truncation()` in 1.9.0.

◆ Where it's heading

The package spent this window paying down interface debt and is now extending from the tidier base. Options that existed only for `estimate_infections()` have been propagated outward: `estimate_truncation()` gained the full `dist_spec` delay families, `obs_opts()` observation model selection between Poisson and negative binomial, and the `likelihood` and `return_likelihood` settings that make prior-only fits and loo-compatible output possible. Hardcoded assumptions are being replaced by specifiable ones in the same motion — the truncation model's additive noise term was a fixed `sigma ~ normal(0, 1)` prior and is now a `dist_spec` argument.

◆ Prediction

Expect the remaining modelling functions to keep converging on the shared options interface, since the last two releases have each moved another function onto it. A new `estimate_dist()` for interval-censored linelist data suggests delay estimation is the area still gaining surface.

O
OneSampleMR
ANALYTICS
0.0

OneSampleMR found that argument order in a formula was silently changing its estimates

◆ Current state

OneSampleMR implements one-sample Mendelian randomization estimators — two-stage predictor substitution, two-stage residual inclusion, and Sanderson-Windmeijer conditional F statistics for instrument strength. The package spent its first years on packaging and dependency upkeep. The 2026 releases turn to substance: broader support for models fitted elsewhere, then a correctness fix for a defect that depended on nothing more than where covariates appeared in a formula.

◆ Where it's heading

Two threads. The first is reach — fsw() now reads models fitted by AER::ivreg(), estimatr::iv_robust() and fixest::feols() in addition to ivreg::ivreg(), which makes conditional F statistics available without refitting in the package's own idiom. The second is hardening: clear errors when more than one exposure is given or when a variable collides with the reserved name y, and print methods that no longer fail on user-specified t0 with log or logit links. Both come largely from user reports rather than a plan.

◆ Prediction

The estimator-support work has been adding one IV-fitting package at a time on outside contributions, so further backends are the likeliest next content — the package's own estimators have been stable since first release.

Alternatives to EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR

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 EpiNow2 or OneSampleMR.

See all EpiNow2 alternatives → · See all OneSampleMR alternatives →

Recent activity from EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR

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

  1. 1mo agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR fixes estimates broken by covariate order in the formula
  2. 1mo agoEpiNow2estimate_truncation gains full delay and observation options
  3. 5mo agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR computes conditional F for three more IV packages
  4. 6mo agoEpiNow2Unified return objects and shared accessors across all models
  5. 1y agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR 0.1.6
  6. 1y agoEpiNow2Patch for an upstream rstan issue
  7. 1y agoEpiNow2Accumulation for irregularly reported data; unified priors
  8. 1y agoEpiNow2Matern kernel spectral density fix and GP prior revert
  9. 1y agoEpiNow2Gaussian Process model improvements and explicit defaults
  10. 2y agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR 0.1.5
  11. 2y agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR 0.1.4
  12. 3y agoOneSampleMROneSampleMR 0.1.3

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR?

Both compete on the same themes — epidemiology — within Analytics. EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR 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 EpiNow2 better than OneSampleMR?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. EpiNow2 and OneSampleMR 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 EpiNow2?

Top EpiNow2 alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "EpiNow2 alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/epinow2 for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to OneSampleMR?

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