← Back to home
Comparison · Analytics

ggmapinset vs silx

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

ggmapinset vs silx: at a glance

Featureggmapinsetsilx
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score0.05.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesggplot2, geospatial, inset-maps, extension-apiscientific-computing, data-visualization, synchrotron, qt
Last editorial update1d ago2h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is ggmapinset?

A ggplot2 inset-map extension that is now infrastructure for other packages

ggmapinset adds magnified inset panels to ggplot2 sf maps, handling the coordinate transformation, the inset frame and the sf-related stat layers that have to follow it. The 0.5.0 release is aimed less at end users than at extension authors: coerce_centre() is a new extension point required by sibling package ggautomap, and the inset parameter drops NA in favour of waiver() as its default. It comes from cidm-ph, alongside nswgeo.

Read the full ggmapinset trajectory →

What is silx?

silx settles into maintenance a release after its PySide6 migration

silx is in the quiet phase after a generational release. 3.1.1 is a single fix to FitWidget loading a fit function from file. The release before it, 3.1.0, was the first real feature work since the migration - asinh axis scaling, twilight colormaps, and dark-theme icons - and 3.0.1 was similarly small. The 3.0.0 cut that reset the Qt binding and Python floor still defines what the line is doing.

Read the full silx trajectory →

ggmapinset vs silx: editorial side-by-side

G
ggmapinset
ANALYTICS
0.0

A ggplot2 inset-map extension that is now infrastructure for other packages

◆ Current state

ggmapinset adds magnified inset panels to ggplot2 sf maps, handling the coordinate transformation, the inset frame and the sf-related stat layers that have to follow it. The 0.5.0 release is aimed less at end users than at extension authors: coerce_centre() is a new extension point required by sibling package ggautomap, and the inset parameter drops NA in favour of waiver() as its default. It comes from cidm-ph, alongside nswgeo.

◆ Where it's heading

The package has moved steadily from feature to foundation. 0.3.0 replaced confusing parameter names and rebuilt everything on stat_sf_inset() so coordinate limits stayed correct, then exposed transform_to_inset() explicitly for extension developers. 0.4.0 generalised inset shapes beyond circles to rectangles and arbitrary sf geometries. 0.5.0 continues in that direction, changing defaults in ways that require downstream extensions to adapt — the cost of being depended upon.

◆ Prediction

Expect further extension points driven by what ggautomap and the other cidm-ph mapping packages need, with the user-facing inset API staying largely settled after the shape generalisation.

S
silx
ANALYTICS
5.0

silx settles into maintenance a release after its PySide6 migration

◆ Current state

silx is in the quiet phase after a generational release. 3.1.1 is a single fix to FitWidget loading a fit function from file. The release before it, 3.1.0, was the first real feature work since the migration - asinh axis scaling, twilight colormaps, and dark-theme icons - and 3.0.1 was similarly small. The 3.0.0 cut that reset the Qt binding and Python floor still defines what the line is doing.

◆ Where it's heading

The cadence has slowed markedly since April, and the content has shifted from structural change to plotting and colormap refinement. That is the expected shape after a binding migration: downstream beamline code needs a stable target, so the project trades feature velocity for a quiet surface. The gap between 3.0.1 in May and 3.1.0 in August is the clearest signal of the deliberate slowdown.

◆ Prediction

Expect further point releases servicing the plotting and fitting widgets rather than another structural change, with feature work continuing to arrive in the 3.1.x minors rather than patches.

Alternatives to ggmapinset and silx

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 ggmapinset or silx.

See all ggmapinset alternatives → · See all silx alternatives →

Recent activity from ggmapinset and silx

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

  1. 5h agosilxFitWidget fix for loading a fit function from file
  2. 9d agosilx3.1.0: asinh axis scaling, twilight colormaps, dark-theme icons
  3. 3mo agosilx3.0.1: silx view fails to disable HDF5 file locking
  4. 3mo agosilx3.0.0: PySide6 becomes the default Qt binding, Python 3.10 required
  5. 3mo agosilx3.0.0rc1: release candidate for the PySide6 migration
  6. 4mo agoggmapinsetNew extension point for ggautomap; waiver() replaces NA
  7. 1y agosilx2.2.2: plot axes limits, OpenGL axes and libhdf5 1.14 fixes
  8. 1y agoggmapinsetRectangular and arbitrary sf inset shapes
  9. 3y agoggmapinsetRebuilt on stat_sf_inset() with corrected coordinate limits

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ggmapinset and silx?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. silx is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 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 ggmapinset better than silx?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. silx is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 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 ggmapinset?

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

What are the best alternatives to silx?

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