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jagstargets
What jagstargets is
jagstargets is a free R package for reproducible Bayesian data-analysis pipelines using JAGS. Its tar_jags() function declares model-fitting targets and connects them to the targets workflow. Pipelines can avoid rerunning expensive steps when results are current and can parallelize computation automatically. Outputs may include posterior draws, summary statistics, convergence diagnostics and deviance information criterion results. Multiple JAGS model files can run against one dataset. The package integrates with JAGS, rjags, R2jags, targets and posterior. Before installation, users must install JAGS, rjags and R2jags. Documentation provides CRAN and GitHub development-version installation and identifies an MIT license. Help is available through GitHub discussions. The project expects familiarity with targets, Bayesian statistics and JAGS; experience with rjags or R2jags is useful.
Who it suits
jagstargets is intended for Bayesian statisticians who already understand targets, Bayesian methods and JAGS. It suits analysts building repeatable, dependency-aware model workflows in R.
What it does well
- Reproducible JAGS pipeline workflow
- Skips up-to-date expensive steps
- Automatic computation parallelization
- Produces diagnostics and model summaries
- Supports multiple model files
What to know first
- Requires JAGS, rjags and R2jags
- Assumes familiarity with targets and JAGS
- R package rather than a standalone application
Limits
The package requires JAGS, rjags, and R2jags before installation. Its documented workflow is for JAGS-based Bayesian analysis and assumes familiarity with targets, Bayesian statistics, and JAGS.
Getting started
- Install JAGS
- Install rjags and R2jags
- Install jagstargets from CRAN or its GitHub development version
- Use tar_jags() to declare JAGS model targets
- Connect the workflow with targets and related packages
Verdict
jagstargets organizes JAGS analysis into reproducible targets pipelines with caching and parallel execution. It is a focused choice for experienced R and Bayesian users, but setup requires several prerequisites.
Questions
Is jagstargets free?
Yes. jagstargets is distributed as a free R package under the MIT license.
Where can jagstargets be installed from?
Installation is available through CRAN or the GitHub development version.
What must be installed first?
Users must install JAGS, rjags, and R2jags before installing jagstargets.
Which packages and tools does it integrate with?
It works with JAGS, rjags, R2jags, targets, and posterior.
What outputs can the workflow create?
It can create posterior draws, summary statistics, convergence diagnostics, and deviance information criterion results.
Where can users get help?
Questions can be posted in the project's GitHub discussions forum.
Facts from jagstargets's own pages
- Analysis outputs
- The workflow can create posterior draws, summary statistics and convergence diagnostics, and deviance information criterion results. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Distribution and license
- The documentation offers installation from CRAN or the GitHub development version, and identifies the license as MIT. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Efficiency
- Pipelines can skip expensive steps when their results are already up to date and automatically parallelize computation. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- jagstargets works with JAGS, R2jags, targets, and posterior. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation says users should be familiar with targets, Bayesian statistics, and JAGS; prior experience with rjags or R2jags helps. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Multiple models
- You can supply multiple JAGS model files, which run on the same dataset. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- jagstargets creates reproducible pipelines for Bayesian data analysis with JAGS, designed for Bayesian statisticians. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Users must install JAGS, rjags, and R2jags before installing jagstargets. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users having trouble can ask for help in the project's GitHub discussions forum. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Workflow
- Its tar_jags() function declares targets for fitting JAGS models and managing their workflow through targets. · docs.ropensci.org, 4 Oct 2026
Where jagstargets stands on Freedom251
- Workflow Management Software#18 of 48