CausalDynamics.jl

CausalDynamics.CausalDynamics — Module

CausalDynamics

Provide causal graph operations and identification for structural and discrete-time dynamical models (CDMs), including a lightweight SCM layer.

Core exports cover d-separation and paths; backdoor, frontdoor, and instrumental-variable criteria; GraphSCM simulation with do(·); and DiscreteTimeCDM trajectories with shared-U counterfactuals. Identification façades wrap CausalInference.jl. Optional extensions load DAGMakie.jl plotting and RxInfer / GraphPPL backdoor inference.

Experimental (not exported; qualify as CausalDynamics.…): Hypergraph for higher-order edges; symbolic do-calculus stubs; constructor-only normalise_* validators. Prefer DAGMakie for figures. EstimationPlan remains the hand-off object for CausalTargeted (package move deferred).

Examples

using CausalDynamics
using Graphs

g = DiGraph(4)
add_edge!(g, 1, 2)  # X → Y
add_edge!(g, 3, 1)  # Z → X
add_edge!(g, 3, 2)  # Z → Y

d_separated(g, 1, 2, [3])  # false: direct X → Y path remains open
backdoor_adjustment_set(g, 1, 2)  # Set([3])

References

Pearl, J. (2009). Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference
Shpitser, I., & Pearl, J. (2006). Identification of joint interventional distributions

source

CausalDynamics provides causal graph operations and identification for structural and discrete-time dynamical models (CDMs). Identification and estimation names follow Pearl-style conventions (d_separated, backdoor_adjustment_set, do_intervention, DiscreteTimeCDM, …). Temporal identity may use the closed lexicon on Terminology. See Scope for what is in core versus deferred.

The package covers d-separation and path finding; backdoor, frontdoor, and instrumental-variable criteria; static GraphSCM simulation with do(·) and shared-U counterfactuals; discrete-time CDMs (DoSequence, trajectory simulation); soft interventions and g-computation; and time-indexed identification via unrolled lag DAGs. Optional extensions load DAGMakie plotting, RxInfer / GraphPPL backdoor inference, and Associations.jl discovery bridges.

Compared with R and Python

Need	CausalDynamics	Familiar elsewhere
d-separation / backdoor / frontdoor / IV	Yes	dagitty, DoWhy, causal-learn
Typed `identify` → certificate	Unique	Partial
Discrete-time CDM + shared-`U` CF	Unique	Rare
Temporal unroll / SciML continuous CDM	Unique	Partial / custom

Choose CausalDynamics when certificates and trajectories should feed Julia estimation and plotting. Prefer dagitty / DoWhy for GUI-first or existing Python four-step workflows. Details: Comparison · ECOSYSTEM_COMPARISON.md.

Quick start

using CausalDynamics, Graphs, DAGMakie, CairoMakie

g = DiGraph(3)
add_edge!(g, 1, 2)  # Z → X
add_edge!(g, 1, 3)  # Z → Y
add_edge!(g, 2, 3)  # X → Y

d_separated(g, 2, 3, [1])                 # false: X → Y remains open
backdoor_adjustment_set(g, 2, 3)            # Set([1])

# Optional DAGMakie highlighting of backdoor paths and the adjustment set
fig = plot_backdoor_paths(g, 2, 3; node_labels = ["Z", "X", "Y"])
fig

Adjusting for Z blocks the backdoor path X ← Z → Y, while leaving the direct causal path X → Y open. A valid backdoor adjustment set does not imply d-separation of X and Y in the original DAG.

DAG figures use DAGMakie.jl; CausalDynamics supplies the identification sets that the plot helpers consume.

Installation

using Pkg
Pkg.add("CausalDynamics")

Optional plots: Pkg.add("DAGMakie") then using DAGMakie, CairoMakie.

See REGISTRATION.md for newer versions still awaiting registry publication.

Documentation

Scope · Terminology · Comparison · Getting Started · Missingness · API
Design: DESIGN.md · BOUNDARIES.md · ecosystem principles
References — Pearl, g-methods, discovery, temporal ID (DOIs / BibTeX keys)
Estimation layer: CausalTargeted.jl references
Narrative companion: CDCS Book

Compared with R/Python graph tools and the rest of this Julia stack: see Comparison (summary above) and ECOSYSTEM_COMPARISON.md.