qqman
The Manhattan-plot package for GWAS results, finished and dormant since 2017.
Comparison · Analytics
fossilsim vs rjwsacruncher
A side-by-side editorial comparison of fossilsim and rjwsacruncher — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
fossilsim vs rjwsacruncher: at a glance
What is fossilsim?
A fossil-record simulator that quietly grew a trait-evolution engine.
FossilSim is a mature R package for simulating fossil records on phylogenetic trees, and its release cadence reflects that: long gaps punctuated by a single capability addition. The last four releases span three years, with the most recent being a compatibility sync to its companion Shiny front-end rather than new functionality. The core simulation surface has been stable since 2022.
What is rjwsacruncher?
A thin R wrapper around a Java seasonal-adjustment tool, slowly absorbing the setup work.
rjwsacruncher drives JDemetra+'s JWSACruncher from R, handling parameter files and batch runs of seasonal adjustment workspaces. Recent releases have shifted from wrapping the executable to managing its installation: 0.2.3 adds a downloader for JDemetra+ itself, a check that a given directory really contains the cruncher binary, and tolerance for users pointing at the executable instead of its bin directory.
fossilsim vs rjwsacruncher: editorial side-by-side
fossilsim
0.0ANALYTICS
A fossil-record simulator that quietly grew a trait-evolution engine.
◆ Current state
FossilSim is a mature R package for simulating fossil records on phylogenetic trees, and its release cadence reflects that: long gaps punctuated by a single capability addition. The last four releases span three years, with the most recent being a compatibility sync to its companion Shiny front-end rather than new functionality. The core simulation surface has been stable since 2022.
◆ Where it's heading
The arc runs from sampling mechanics toward simulating what the organisms actually were. Version 2.2.0 taught the package to handle occurrence data for occurrence birth-death models; 2.3.0 then added trait simulation under Mk, BM and OU, which is a different kind of output than fossil ages. Since then the work has been maintenance and keeping the FossilSimShiny GUI in step, suggesting the authors consider the current model set feature-complete.
◆ Prediction
The pairing of the 2.3.3 release with a FossilSimShiny version bump points to the GUI, not the library, as where the next visible work lands. The entries do not show enough activity to predict a specific new model family.
rjwsacruncher
0.0ANALYTICS
A thin R wrapper around a Java seasonal-adjustment tool, slowly absorbing the setup work.
◆ Current state
rjwsacruncher drives JDemetra+'s JWSACruncher from R, handling parameter files and batch runs of seasonal adjustment workspaces. Recent releases have shifted from wrapping the executable to managing its installation: 0.2.3 adds a downloader for JDemetra+ itself, a check that a given directory really contains the cruncher binary, and tolerance for users pointing at the executable instead of its bin directory.
◆ Where it's heading
The work is defensive. Most of each release addresses a way users misconfigure paths or versions — clearer errors, a startup message naming which cruncher version the options select, and a standalone flag on the downloader. The package is absorbing the friction of a Java dependency it does not control.
◆ Prediction
Expect continued compatibility work as JDemetra+ 3.x diverges from 2.x, since the version split is already surfaced as a user-facing option rather than resolved internally.
Alternatives to fossilsim and rjwsacruncher
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 fossilsim or rjwsacruncher.
constants
The R package for CODATA constants rebuilt its symbol table on NIST's naming so future updates stop being hand work.
austraits
The R client for AusTraits spends its releases chasing the dataset it reads.
ggdemetra
A ggplot2 layer for seasonal adjustment output, filling in one plot type at a time.
tern.rbmi
Reference-based multiple imputation tables, shipping only what CRAN checks demand.
tern.mmrm
An MMRM tabulation package that has published nothing since its 2024 CRAN releases.
See all fossilsim alternatives → · See all rjwsacruncher alternatives →
Recent activity from fossilsim and rjwsacruncher
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 5mo agorjwsacruncherdownload_jdemetra() and bin-directory validation added
- 1y agorjwsacruncherread_param_file() no longer forces full_series_name to FALSE
- 1y agorjwsacruncherRenaming controls and configurable parameter file names
- 2y agofossilsimCompatibility bump for FossilSimShiny 1.1.2
- 2y agorjwsacruncherParameter-file read/write functions added; cruncher 3.x support
- 4y agofossilsimBug fixes and documentation cleanup
- 4y agofossilsimTrait simulation arrives: Mk, BM and OU models ⚡
- 5y agofossilsimOccurrence handling for the occurrence birth-death model
- 7y agorjwsacruncherFirst CRAN release
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fossilsim and rjwsacruncher?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. fossilsim and rjwsacruncher 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 fossilsim better than rjwsacruncher?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. fossilsim and rjwsacruncher 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 fossilsim?
Top fossilsim alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "fossilsim alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/fossilsim-r for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to rjwsacruncher?
Top rjwsacruncher alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "rjwsacruncher alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/rjwsacruncher for the full list with editorial commentary on each.