R Language Definition Writing R Extensions
1988 S book (the "Blue Book") 1992 S book (the "White Book") S programing Programing with data (about S4) ======= 2005-10-17 19:36:48 您在来信中写道:======= > > > > >In my job I write custom computer programs for data analysis, which >are used in our company's consulting business. Whenever I've needed >statistical analyses I've coded the algorithms myself, but my boss >wants me to start learning and using R, to speed up development. > >I am very reluctuant to do this because I can't find adequate >*programming* documentation for R (though I can find a lot of >inadequate documentation). As far as I can tell, the R documentation >may be adequate for end-users who don't plan to do much programming >(if any at all), but it is completely unacceptable from the standpoint >of programming. > >In a couple of simple exploratory projects I have been reduced to >programming by *trial and error*. For example, I just spent a couple >of fruitless hours trying to find information on how to modify a list >(all my ***guesses*** have failed; they either produce results >different from what I want, or generate errors such as "replacing >element in non-existent column"). How much fundamental basic can one >get in the documentation of a programming language than this sort of >information?[1] This is just one of many examples. My R code is filled >with crude hacks that I don't understand, and that I stumbled upon in >blind scrambles to get my code to work. How can I possible stand by >the results of my R scripts if they are the product of sheer >guesswork? > >I even bought the R Reference Manual, vols. 1 and 2, and deeply regret >it, since they are nothing other than a hardcopy of the online manual >pages[1]. This is no substitute for a reference of the R language and >how to program it. > >Is my impression correct that R is simply not well-documented enough >for serious programming? Have I missed a key reference to programming >R? To those of you who do a lot of programming in R (other than those >who are members of the R Development team, of course): what references >do you consult on questions about the programming language itself (as >opposed to this or that library function)? > >Thanks! > >kj > >[1] A massive tome that I have called S-Plus 2000 Programmer's guide >has *nothing* on the subject. Unbelievable! 900 pages and not a word >on how one modifies a basic data type. > >[2] This, BTW, was a *big* waste of money. I'm all for supporting >open source development, and often buy hardcopy manuals of free >software precisely for this reason, but for what I got in return for >my 100 USD, I'd been far better off sending directly to the R >Foundation the pittance that the publishers of the manual pass on to >it. > >P.S. I'm aware of Introduction to R; this is OK as a tutorial, >particularly for end users, but by itself utterly inadequate as a >reference to the R language. > >______________________________________________ >R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list >https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help >PLEASE do read the posting guide! http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 2005-10-17 ------ Deparment of Sociology Fudan University My new mail addres is [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blog:http://sociology.yculblog.com
______________________________________________ R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide! http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html