First, StataNow is Stata. To be exact, the current Stata that most of you have is Stata 18.0. StataNow is Stata 18.5 (we’ll call it StataNow 18.5 from now on). When using StataNow, you should use the 18.5 version launcher and do-files, just as you used the 18.0 version launcher and do-files before. Why are the version numbers different? Because StataNow is newer than Stata 18.0, some things in it may need to be different from Stata 18. This is no different than when a new version is released, it has different versions, 16.0, 17.0, 18.0, and so on. As always, StataNow is backwards compatible, so any programs, do-files, datasets, and so on from earlier versions will work in StataNow without changes.

What if we need to version something in both Stata and StataNow? Then we will release Stata 18.1 and StataNow 18.6.

The documentation and help files for Stata 18.0 and StataNow 18.5 are identical. StataNow features are included and clearly labeled.

The format of datasets in StataNow is the same as in Stata.

What new features are in StataNow, and how often do we add features to StataNow? Check out the current set of new features. There is no fixed schedule for releasing new features, but we expect new features to be released fairly frequently—several times a year. We will not release any new features before then, which means that anything released in StataNow is fully official, tested, verified, certified, and documented, just like all features we release in new versions of Stata.

When Stata 19 eventually comes out, it will of course include all the features that appear in StataNow plus some additional new features. StataNow users will be able to automatically upgrade to Stata 19—in fact, they will upgrade to StataNow 19.5 when Stata 19.0 is released, and over time StataNow 19.5 will gain additional features as soon as the Stata genie is ready.

We are excited to bring you the new features we add to Stata, getting them into your hands faster!

List of new features of StataNow

1. Estimation of high-dimensional fixed effect model

The absorb option is added to the xtreg and areg commands to absorb high-dimensional fixed effects

2. Enhanced functions of Do-file Editor, including code folding enhancements and automatic completion of variable names

3. Meta-analysis of correlation

4. Robust estimation of weak tools

5. SVAR model through instrumental variables (https://www.stata.com/statanow/instrumental-variables-svar-models/)

6. Bayesian quantile regression

7. Bayesian asymmetric Laplace model

8. In terms of causal inference, the teffects command has enhanced functions for causal inference

The teffects aipw command for estimating treatment effects can now provide estimates of the average treatment effect on the treated objects through enhanced inverse probability weighting, and can adjust the sampling weight results.

9. Robust standard estimation for VAR models The var command for fitting vector autoregression (VAR) models now allows the vce (robust) option to estimate robust standard errors.

10. Color by variable for more plots

The colorvar option is now available for other bidirectional plots: line plots, link plots, TSLINE, RLINE, RNeded, and TSRline plots. This means you can change the color of lines, markers, etc. in the plot based on the value of a specified variable.

11. PyStata Enhancements

12. Bayesian Analysis

Bayesian Model Average (BMA)

Bayesian Quantile Regression StataNow

Bayesian Asymmetric Laplace Model