qqman
The Manhattan-plot package for GWAS results, finished and dormant since 2017.
Comparison · Analytics
fossilsim vs treeshap
A side-by-side editorial comparison of fossilsim and treeshap — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
fossilsim vs treeshap: 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 treeshap?
treeshap keeps widening its tree-model coverage while the SHAP math stays put.
treeshap computes exact SHAP values for tree ensembles in R, reaching each modelling framework through a per-framework unify() adapter. Since returning to CRAN in 2023 it has added GPBoost, ranger survival forests and multi-output models to that adapter layer. Four releases in three years, each dominated by adapter work contributed by users of one specific framework.
fossilsim vs treeshap: 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.
treeshap
0.0ANALYTICS
treeshap keeps widening its tree-model coverage while the SHAP math stays put.
◆ Current state
treeshap computes exact SHAP values for tree ensembles in R, reaching each modelling framework through a per-framework unify() adapter. Since returning to CRAN in 2023 it has added GPBoost, ranger survival forests and multi-output models to that adapter layer. Four releases in three years, each dominated by adapter work contributed by users of one specific framework.
◆ Where it's heading
The direction is breadth of model support rather than new explanation methods: every release since the first CRAN submission adds or repairs a unify() backend. Maintenance is community-driven, with named contributors fixing the framework they personally use. Nothing in these entries points at work on the SHAP algorithms themselves.
◆ Prediction
Expect the next release to add or repair another unify() adapter as a contributor brings their own framework, rather than to change how explanations are computed.
Alternatives to fossilsim and treeshap
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 treeshap.
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 treeshap alternatives →
Recent activity from fossilsim and treeshap
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 3mo agotreeshapGPBoost support lands; xgboost adapter repaired
- 2y agofossilsimCompatibility bump for FossilSimShiny 1.1.2
- 2y agotreeshapFixes broken lightgbm.unify examples
- 2y agotreeshapMulti-output model explanations added
- 2y agotreeshapFirst CRAN release consolidates the unify() adapters ⚡
- 4y agofossilsimBug fixes and documentation cleanup
- 4y agofossilsimTrait simulation arrives: Mk, BM and OU models ⚡
- 5y agofossilsimOccurrence handling for the occurrence birth-death model
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fossilsim and treeshap?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. fossilsim and treeshap 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 treeshap?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. fossilsim and treeshap 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 treeshap?
Top treeshap alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "treeshap alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/treeshap for the full list with editorial commentary on each.