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DHARMa vs silx

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

DHARMa vs silx: at a glance

FeatureDHARMasilx
SectorAnalyticsAnalytics
Velocity score0.05.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesresidual-diagnostics, glmm, breaking-change, bayesianscientific-computing, data-visualization, synchrotron, qt
Last editorial update2d ago3h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is DHARMa?

DHARMa changed how GLMM residuals are simulated, so the same code now returns different numbers.

DHARMa generates scaled quantile residuals for fitted GLMMs and runs the dispersion, uniformity, and autocorrelation tests built on them. Version 0.5.0 changed the default simulation for hierarchical models from the model's own default, mostly unconditional, to conditional simulation, and states plainly that residuals will differ from those computed by older versions. The same release added brms to the supported model set and reworked how predictors are passed to plotting and testing functions.

Read the full DHARMa 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 →

DHARMa vs silx: editorial side-by-side

D
DHARMa
ANALYTICS
0.0

DHARMa changed how GLMM residuals are simulated, so the same code now returns different numbers.

◆ Current state

DHARMa generates scaled quantile residuals for fitted GLMMs and runs the dispersion, uniformity, and autocorrelation tests built on them. Version 0.5.0 changed the default simulation for hierarchical models from the model's own default, mostly unconditional, to conditional simulation, and states plainly that residuals will differ from those computed by older versions. The same release added brms to the supported model set and reworked how predictors are passed to plotting and testing functions.

◆ Where it's heading

The package has spent several releases widening which model backends it can diagnose, from glmmTMB through mgcv, phylolm and now brms, while methodological work has gone into handling correlated residuals via the rotation argument. Version 0.5.0 shifts from adding coverage to changing defaults for statistical power. The formula interface arriving across plotResiduals, testCategorical, testQuantiles and the autocorrelation tests suggests the API is being unified rather than extended function by function.

◆ Prediction

The next releases will likely broaden brms support past the simple-model restriction and continue converting remaining functions to the formula interface.

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 DHARMa 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 DHARMa or silx.

See all DHARMa alternatives → · See all silx alternatives →

Recent activity from DHARMa and silx

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

  1. 6h agosilxFitWidget fix for loading a fit function from file
  2. 9d agosilx3.1.0: asinh axis scaling, twilight colormaps, dark-theme icons
  3. 2mo agoDHARMaConditional simulation becomes the GLMM default, changing residuals
  4. 3mo agosilx3.0.1: silx view fails to disable HDF5 file locking
  5. 3mo agosilx3.0.0: PySide6 becomes the default Qt binding, Python 3.10 required
  6. 3mo agosilx3.0.0rc1: release candidate for the PySide6 migration
  7. 1y agosilx2.2.2: plot axes limits, OpenGL axes and libhdf5 1.14 fixes
  8. 1y agoDHARMaDHARMa 0.4.7
  9. 3y agoDHARMaDHARMa 0.4.6
  10. 4y agoDHARMaDHARMa 0.4.5
  11. 4y agoDHARMaDHARMa 0.4.4
  12. 5y agoDHARMaDHARMa 0.4.3

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between DHARMa 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 DHARMa 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 DHARMa?

Top DHARMa alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "DHARMa alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/dharma 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.