Omni
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Comparison · Analytics
epiparameter vs silx
A side-by-side editorial comparison of epiparameter and silx — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
epiparameter vs silx: at a glance
What is epiparameter?
epiparameter split its parameter library out of the package — and relicensed what remained.
epiparameter provides classes and methods for working with epidemiological parameter distributions — delays, offspring distributions, incubation periods — drawn from the published literature. As of 0.4.0 the library itself no longer lives here: the parameters moved to {epiparameterDB}, taken on as a dependency, leaving {epiparameter} as the code layer alone. The most recent release is a CRAN-driven patch.
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.
epiparameter vs silx: editorial side-by-side
epiparameter
0.0ANALYTICS
epiparameter split its parameter library out of the package — and relicensed what remained.
◆ Current state
epiparameter provides classes and methods for working with epidemiological parameter distributions — delays, offspring distributions, incubation periods — drawn from the published literature. As of 0.4.0 the library itself no longer lives here: the parameters moved to {epiparameterDB}, taken on as a dependency, leaving {epiparameter} as the code layer alone. The most recent release is a CRAN-driven patch.
◆ Where it's heading
Each release has clarified the boundary between the data and the tools that operate on it. 0.2.0 added coercion from {epireview} tables, 0.3.0 rewrote the classes and renamed much of the API, and 0.4.0 completed the separation while adding caching so loading the library stays cheap. Breaking changes have been frequent and deliberate rather than incidental.
◆ Prediction
With code and data separated, the two can version independently — expect parameter additions to appear in {epiparameterDB} releases while this package's changes stay focused on classes and methods.
silx
5.0ANALYTICS
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 epiparameter 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 epiparameter or silx.
Plotly
Plotly is turning its cloud into a metered compute platform with an enterprise on-ramp.
aniread
aniread stops asking you to know which tracker wrote the file
Rho
Rho's release machinery finally produced a stable build — and it shipped no new product.
Usermaven
Usermaven closed the loop: data comes in from anywhere, and now it goes back out.
OpenCTI
OpenCTI spends a release unblocking queues and hardening upserts
See all epiparameter alternatives → · See all silx alternatives →
Recent activity from epiparameter and silx
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 4h agosilxFitWidget fix for loading a fit function from file
- 9d agosilx3.1.0: asinh axis scaling, twilight colormaps, dark-theme icons
- 3mo agosilx3.0.1: silx view fails to disable HDF5 file locking
- 3mo agosilx3.0.0: PySide6 becomes the default Qt binding, Python 3.10 required ⚡
- 3mo agosilx3.0.0rc1: release candidate for the PySide6 migration
- 1y agosilx2.2.2: plot axes limits, OpenGL axes and libhdf5 1.14 fixes
- 1y agoepiparameterCRAN check fixes
- 1y agoepiparameterParameter library moves to epiparameterDB; package relicensed to MIT alone ⚡
- 1y agoepiparameterClasses and methods reworked; large-scale renaming
- 2y agoepiparameterInteroperability with epireview via as_epidist()
- 2y agoepiparameterFirst release: 122 parameter sets and the epidist class
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between epiparameter 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 epiparameter 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 epiparameter?
Top epiparameter alternatives in Analytics are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "epiparameter alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/epiparameter 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.