The challenges in statistics and data science are rapidly growing because access to a multitude of data types continues to increase, as well as the sheer quantity of data. Analysts are now presented with multivariate data, sometimes measured repeatedly, and often requiring the ability to model nonlinear relationships and hierarchical structures. In this article, I present the merlin command, which attempts to provide an extremely general framework for data analysis. From simple settings such as fitting a linear regression model or a Weibull survival model to more complex settings such as fitting a three-level logistic mixed-effects model or a multivariate joint model of multiple longitudinal outcomes (of different types) and a recurrent event and survival with nonlinear effects, merlin can fit them all. I will take a single dataset and attempt to show you the full range of capabilities of merlin and discuss some future directions for the implementation in Stata.

统计和数据科学方面的挑战正在迅速增长，因为对多种数据类型的访问量以及庞大的数据量不断增加。现在为分析师提供了多变量数据，有时会对其进行重复测量，并且经常需要能够对非线性关系和层次结构进行建模。在本文中，我介绍了merlin命令，该命令试图提供一个非常通用的数据分析框架。从简单的设置（例如，拟合线性回归模型或Weibull生存模型）到更复杂的设置，例如，拟合三级logistic混合效应模型或具有多个（不同类型）纵向结果和复发事件的多变量联合模型，以及非线性影响生存，梅林可以适合所有人。我将采用一个数据集并尝试向您展示merlin的全部功能，并讨论在Stata中实现的一些未来方向。