How to learn coding

Ben Baumer

About Googling…

• use ggplot2 in your searches

• use ggplot2 tag on Stack Overflow

• beware of base R and lattice solutions

  • plot()
  • xyplot()

Don’t blindly copy and paste code

• Coding is a form of expression

• It’s like taking notes

• Write it yourself from scratch

• Don’t submit code that you don’t understand

Bad filenames

• Problems:
  • spaces and special characters in filenames are bad
  • file extensions are important
• Solutions:
  • use underscores (_) and/or dashes (-)
  • use .Rmd
• Jenny Bryan on naming things

Ongoing confusion

R session (active)

• Console pane
• interactive
• full benefit of RStudio IDE
• Environment/History pane
• Files/Plots/Packages/Help pane

R session (passive)

• R Markdown pane
• sequential
• invisible
• created when you Knit
• creates HTML output

When you need to clean up…

• Broom icon in Environment to sweep away objects

• Run all chunks above

  • Ctrl + Alt + P

• Session -> Restart R

Navigating R help

• Will come with experience

• R help:

  • rigorously formatted
  • often incomplete
  • often complete but inscrutable
  • examples can be hit-or-miss
  • argument descriptions are usually good