INFRA · APIS
The recursive-computation engine under massProps grows the accessors its consumer needed
Alternatives · developer tools
formr alternatives
The best formr alternatives in developer tools, ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score.
Updated Aug 20, 2026
Looking for the best alternatives to formr? Sparkpulse tracks and ranks 12 alternatives in developer tools by shipping velocity — how frequently each ships meaningful updates, verified from official changelogs. For reference, formr shipped 0 meaningful updates in the last 30 days and carries a velocity score of 0.0 out of 10 in 2026. The alternatives below are ranked the same way, so you're comparing real release momentum, not marketing claims.
About formr
formr's R client reached CRAN and moved its recommended path to the v1 REST API.
formr is the R-side client for formr.org, the open study framework used to run longitudinal and experience-sampling questionnaires. In May it reached CRAN for the first time, released in step with formr.org server v1.0.0, and the formr_api_* family built on the server's RESTful surface became the supported entry point. The three releases since have been repair work on the paths that move rendered output and API results.
Velocity 0.0 · Last update 1h ago
Top 12 alternatives to formr
Ranked by recent ship velocity. Tap any card for the full editorial breakdown, or pivot to a head-to-head.
INFRA · APIS
A mass-properties rollup spends a year on documentation and follows its sibling's API
INFRA · APIS
Six months of releases and not one of them touched the scoring models
INFRA · APIS
A cognitive-science sampling package ships once, then goes quiet for eighteen months
INFRA · APIS
A Bayesian volatility sampler in its maintenance decade, paying for its own speed
INFRA · APIS
A black-box interpreter reaches CRAN, then learns multi-class and survival responses
INFRA · APIS
Spatial thinning grows a result object, and the API breaks to make room for it
INFRA · APIS
A dormant plant-breeding package returns as a genomic selection index suite
INFRA · APIS
CRAN download analytics maintained one micro-change at a time, hundreds per year
INFRA · APIS
INSEE's statistics API gets a French R client that keeps meeting its edge cases
INFRA · APIS
A bulk file reader became a labelled-survey-data toolkit, then went quiet
INFRA · APIS
Network diffusion analysis returns from a seven-year gap able to track several behaviours at once
formr vs alternatives — shipping velocity at a glance
Velocity score (0–10) and meaningful releases shipped in the last 30 days, from official changelogs. Higher = shipping faster.
| Product | Velocity | Sparks · 30d | Focus areas | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| formr (baseline) | 0.0 | 0 | survey-researchrest-apicran-release | v1.0.0 — first CRAN release |
| rollupTree | 0.0 | 0 | recursive-computationtree-structuresdag | — |
| massProps | 0.0 | 0 | systems-engineeringmass-propertiesuncertainty-propagation | — |
| writeAlizer | 0.0 | 0 | writing-assessmentnlp-featuresmodel-artifacts | — |
| samplr | 0.0 | 0 | cognitive-sciencesampling-algorithmsmcmc | — |
| stochvol | 0.0 | 0 | bayesian-inferencestochastic-volatilitymcmc | — |
| midr | 0.0 | 0 | explainable-aisurrogate-modelsshapley | Matrix responses bring multi-class and survival models in scope |
| GeoThinneR | 0.0 | 0 | spatial-thinningspecies-distributionoccurrence-data | GeoThinned result objects and a reorganised method surface |
| selection.index | 0.0 | 0 | plant-breedingselection-indexgenomic-selection | Genomic, marker and multi-stage selection indices on an Rcpp core |
| packageRank | 0.0 | 0 | crandownload-analyticslog-filtering | — |
| melodi | 0.0 | 0 | official-statisticsapi-clientinsee | — |
| bulkreadr | 0.0 | 0 | data-importsurvey-datalabelled-data | SPSS import converting labelled variables to factors |
| netdiffuseR | 0.0 | 0 | network-analysisdiffusioncontagion | Multi-adoption: splitting several behaviours out of one network |
The 12 best formr alternatives, in depth
1. rollupTree · velocity 0.0
The recursive-computation engine under massProps grows the accessors its consumer needed.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, rollupTree focuses on recursive computation, tree structures and dag.
rollupTree and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full rollupTree trajectory → · Compare formr vs rollupTree →
2. massProps · velocity 0.0
A mass-properties rollup spends a year on documentation and follows its sibling's API.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, massProps focuses on systems engineering, mass properties and uncertainty propagation.
massProps and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
3. writeAlizer · velocity 0.0
Six months of releases and not one of them touched the scoring models.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, writeAlizer focuses on writing assessment, nlp features and model artifacts.
writeAlizer and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full writeAlizer trajectory → · Compare formr vs writeAlizer →
4. samplr · velocity 0.0
A cognitive-science sampling package ships once, then goes quiet for eighteen months.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, samplr focuses on cognitive science, sampling algorithms and mcmc.
samplr and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
5. stochvol · velocity 0.0
A Bayesian volatility sampler in its maintenance decade, paying for its own speed.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, stochvol focuses on bayesian inference, stochastic volatility and mcmc.
stochvol and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
6. midr · velocity 0.0
A black-box interpreter reaches CRAN, then learns multi-class and survival responses.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “Matrix responses bring multi-class and survival models in scope”.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, midr focuses on explainable ai, surrogate models and shapley.
midr and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
7. GeoThinneR · velocity 0.0
Spatial thinning grows a result object, and the API breaks to make room for it.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “GeoThinned result objects and a reorganised method surface”.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, GeoThinneR focuses on spatial thinning, species distribution and occurrence data.
GeoThinneR and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full GeoThinneR trajectory → · Compare formr vs GeoThinneR →
8. selection.index · velocity 0.0
A dormant plant-breeding package returns as a genomic selection index suite.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “Genomic, marker and multi-stage selection indices on an Rcpp core”.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, selection.index focuses on plant breeding, selection index and genomic selection.
selection.index and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full selection.index trajectory → · Compare formr vs selection.index →
9. packageRank · velocity 0.0
CRAN download analytics maintained one micro-change at a time, hundreds per year.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, packageRank focuses on cran, download analytics and log filtering.
packageRank and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full packageRank trajectory → · Compare formr vs packageRank →
10. melodi · velocity 0.0
INSEE's statistics API gets a French R client that keeps meeting its edge cases.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, melodi focuses on official statistics, api client and insee.
melodi and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
11. bulkreadr · velocity 0.0
A bulk file reader became a labelled-survey-data toolkit, then went quiet.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “SPSS import converting labelled variables to factors”.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, bulkreadr focuses on data import, survey data and labelled data.
bulkreadr and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
12. netdiffuseR · velocity 0.0
Network diffusion analysis returns from a seven-year gap able to track several behaviours at once.
Its velocity score of 0.0/10 reflects longer-term release cadence; its most recent meaningful update was “Multi-adoption: splitting several behaviours out of one network”.
Where formr leans on survey research, rest api and cran release, netdiffuseR focuses on network analysis, diffusion and contagion.
netdiffuseR and formr have shipped at a similar pace over the last 30 days, so the decision comes down to fit and feature depth.
Full netdiffuseR trajectory → · Compare formr vs netdiffuseR →
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to formr?
The top formr alternatives we currently track in developer tools are rollupTree, massProps, writeAlizer, samplr, stochvol, ranked by recent ship velocity.
How is this list of formr alternatives ranked?
Alternatives are ranked by Sparkpulse's velocity_score — release cadence + 30-day spark count + sector-relative ship rate.
Can I compare formr directly with one of these alternatives?
Yes — every card has a "Compare with formr" link to a side-by-side /compare page.