The Art of R Programming a Tour of Statistical Software Design Advanced R

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Jun sixteen, 2011 Michael rated it actually liked it

Kickoff things first, this volume really lives upwards to its name! It's a thorough introduction to programming in R, aimed at software developers. This is non the volume for you if y'all desire to acquire about the statistics side of R or how to brand prettier plots, in that location are enough of books nearly that anyhow.

What I actually like is that the author never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, because I e'er get turned off when books get-go with a sales pitch for something I already conspicuously due south

Start things first, this book really lives up to its proper noun! It's a thorough introduction to programming in R, aimed at software developers. This is not the volume for y'all if you want to larn about the statistics side of R or how to make prettier plots, in that location are plenty of books about that anyway.

What I really like is that the author never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, considering I ever get turned off when books start with a sales pitch for something I already conspicuously showed interest in past purchasing the book. R is a rather specialized language and chances are that you know why you desire to solve a given problem in information technology, and if you don't, this might not withal exist the book y'all should be reading anyway. The first few chapters cover the linguistic communication's basic data structures like vectors, matrices, arrays, lists and tables, earlier chapter 7 introduces various flow control structures. What follows is a chapter on doing math and simulations in R, which is not overly long but gives some good examples of what the language is useful for. The next chapter is very interesting, it deals with R's object oriented features and describes the differences betwixt S3 and S4 classes as well every bit their respective upwards and down sides. After this the author covers input/output, dealing with strings and R's graphing capabilities. He never gets lost in detail, but provides you with enough info to be able to explore these areas on your ain. What really makes the volume special though are the last few chapters, where Matloff covers debugging (a topic he also wrote an entire book about), functioning tradeoffs, interfacing R with other programming languages (using functions written in C/C++ from R, also equally using R in Python) and diverse approaches to parallelizing R. While none of this may audio super exciting at first — apart from parallelism possibly — these are important problems in the daily lives of software developers and way too many books only gloss over them.

At present for some criticism: personally I don't find the author's manner very engaging, it's rather dry and boring at times. Since it's articulate that Matloff is an absolute authority on the topic of R this doesn't way too heavily, but still deserves a mention. Also for my personal sense of taste there are slightly likewise many forward references in the text, although that's hard to avoid if you desire to properly cover a language. I too constitute it rather odd that at i point the writer mentions that explicit render statements aren't exactly idiomatic in R, just that he will continue using them for the benefit of readers unaccustomed to the language. Given that this was a few capacity in, it would have been a perfect spot to switch to the more idiomatic manner from then on, but maybe that's simply me existence nitpicky. I too noticed several piddling typos and misspellings, something I'thousand not actually used to from No Starch Printing.

All in all this is a very solid book, which you definitely should option upward if you want to learn programming in R!

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Jul 22, 2021 Lindajacob rated it did not like it

Really bad book. Very bones and ordinary. There is much better textile available online for gratuitous.

Jan xix, 2020 Vysloczil is currently reading information technology

In 2020 this championship is slightly outdated, but even so a must read if yous want to up your R game. If you recollect about ownership one book at a good cost, and then get this one and complement it with the costless online version of Hadley Wickham'south Advanced R (now in version 2!).
Be aware that for some of the issues there are improve solutions around already, most chiefly:
* for the connection with python at that place is at present the reticulate package
* for parallel computing much changed
* through Hadley's dplyr and strin In 2020 this title is slightly outdated, but still a must read if yous want to up your R game. If y'all think about ownership one book at a good cost, then become this one and complement it with the gratis online version of Hadley Wickham's Advanced R (now in version 2!).
Exist aware that for some of the problems there are better solutions around already, almost importantly:
* for the connection with python in that location is now the reticulate package
* for parallel calculating much changed
* through Hadley's dplyr and stringr (and some other packages like purrr when information technology comes to functional programming) much improve and smoother solutions are effectually for mutual problems ...more

May xv, 2013 Philipp rated information technology really liked it

If you lot're looking for a book to read as a full-on introduction to R (and advanced R), take this book.
Not only does it go through all of the nuts of the linguistic communication, information technology besides recommends some mod packages which make everything easier (plyr for example) - with copious examples and "avant-garde examples".

I only have two problems with the book:

i) Sometimes, the advanced examples are too clever for their own good. They're meant to showroom the advanced usage of the chief focus of the current chapter, but

If you're looking for a book to read as a full-on introduction to R (and avant-garde R), take this volume.
Not simply does it go through all of the basics of the language, it also recommends some mod packages which make everything easier (plyr for example) - with copious examples and "advanced examples".

I but have two problems with the book:

1) Sometimes, the advanced examples are also clever for their own good. They're meant to showroom the advanced usage of the primary focus of the current chapter, merely they and so often exercise something exceedingly clever that you kickoff have to become through the code step by step with a slice of newspaper to understand the basic algorithm. Just then can yous go on and understand the usage of the data-structure or control-structure in question.
2) It can't decide whether information technology'due south an introduction or a reference. The book is written and structured like an introduction, but it seems to be on a quest to innovate the majority of standard functions that R has (and they are legion). I'm pretty sure I already forgot near 80% of the introduced functions.

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Feb 19, 2020 Tassos rated it actually liked it

Although I did not read from cover to cover, and I mainly skimmed through the capacity, I tin say that this is an excellent introduction to R for beginners and even moderate R users.

You are about to get superpowers by mastering this art. As a event, the digital world volition await quite different. Large blobs of bytes are suddenly playgrounds. You volition load "whatsoever" to your vectorized universe but like creating a swimming puddle with many many lanes. And then you deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff hidden. If you don't feel similar swimming today, just fly, run, clamber, dance… this R thing is so flexible that you tin can fifty-fifty throw numbers in the air like a mad Y'all are virtually to get superpowers by mastering this art. As a outcome, the digital world volition look quite unlike. Big blobs of bytes are all of a sudden playgrounds. Yous volition load "whatever" to your vectorized universe but like creating a swimming pool with many many lanes. Then you deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff hidden. If y'all don't feel like swimming today, just fly, run, crawl, trip the light fantastic toe… this R thing is so flexible that you tin can even throw numbers in the air like a mad magician (wait a second… writing a FUNction for that). ...more

This was my kickoff R book. I worked through a proficient fleck of it but nonetheless felt that in that location was a lot missing in my understanding of R. Something nigh the way it is organized or the mode it explains things didn't quite exercise it for me. I ended upwardly getting another volume that explained R a lot improve to me. I still refer to this book on occasion but I have found R in Action to be much more helpful. This was my offset R book. I worked through a good bit of information technology only still felt that there was a lot missing in my understanding of R. Something well-nigh the manner it is organized or the way information technology explains things didn't quite do information technology for me. I ended up getting another book that explained R a lot meliorate to me. I still refer to this volume on occasion simply I have plant R in Activity to be much more than helpful. ...more

Like nigh programming books, this one focuses too much on syntax and data structures, and non plenty on problems you tin can solve with the language. But other than that information technology'due south well-written. If you desire to do anything having to practice with statistics, R is a great linguistic communication, and this volume will teach yous how to use it.
Like nigh programming books, this one focuses besides much on syntax and data structures, and not enough on problems you lot can solve with the language. But other than that it'due south well-written. If yous desire to do annihilation having to practice with statistics, R is a dandy language, and this book will teach you how to use information technology.
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This volume IMHO is an excellent starting betoken for learning R. I'yard finding information technology really useful for beginners like me to learn this new programming language. The book is comprehensive and well-illustrated.

The initial chapters talk about the foundation concepts like vectors and matrices. The examples are elementary enough to start with, while the author leaves some room for cocky-experimentation. The latter chapters draw the advanced capabilities like graphics, debugging and functioning tuning.

Needles

This book IMHO is an excellent starting point for learning R. I'm finding it really useful for beginners similar me to learn this new programming language. The volume is comprehensive and well-illustrated.

The initial chapters talk about the foundation concepts similar vectors and matrices. The examples are simple enough to start with, while the author leaves some room for self-experimentation. The latter chapters depict the avant-garde capabilities like graphics, debugging and performance tuning.

Needless to say, I'll crave a lot of do to get comfortable thinking in R terms, merely this volume definitely laid the stepping stone for me.

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Mar 21, 2018 Terran Chiliad rated it information technology was amazing

I found this book to be pedagogically excellent with well-considered ordering and progression and a denoting conceptual presentation. Note that this book covers the core R language, data structures, and some utilities - it does non cover model plumbing equipment and it has merely a very cursory treatment of the base graphics. This is an fantabulous first volume on R, since ane tin't do much without agreement the language itself, but it must exist supplemented by other books on ggplot2 or lattice for graphics and I found this book to be pedagogically excellent with well-considered ordering and progression and a cogent conceptual presentation. Note that this book covers the core R language, data structures, and some utilities - it does not comprehend model fitting and information technology has only a very cursory treatment of the base graphics. This is an excellent outset book on R, since one tin't do much without agreement the language itself, but it must exist supplemented by other books on ggplot2 or lattice for graphics and separate books for analysis.

This book is primarily a tutorial. The alphabetize is of mediocre comprehensiveness so I cannot recommend it equally a reference volume.

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Aug 18, 2017 Ashley rated it information technology was amazing

This is one of the best books for learning R. I have read numerous R books and this is my favorite. It is also the preferred text of students who piece of work under me. They are constantly borrowing my copy of this volume.

Jun 08, 2018 Willo rated it actually liked it

A good book, telling yous stuff you won't larn from man pages and websites A good book, telling you stuff you lot won't acquire from man pages and websites ...more

February xiv, 2020 Yuan rated information technology it was amazing

I learned R in a very piecemeal fashion, via learning packages and using functions inside. Somehow I feel all the packages are isolated islands, I have problem to "mucilage" them or sympathize why they were designed in such ways. Specially I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, listing, array, matrix, information frame, factor and tables with the package functions. These very basic concepts in R (east.m. vector, matrix, assortment, list, data frame, factor) can be very tricky. This volume will clear I learned R in a very piecemeal way, via learning packages and using functions within. Somehow I feel all the packages are isolated islands, I have trouble to "gum" them or understand why they were designed in such means. Specially I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, list, assortment, matrix, information frame, cistron and tables with the packet functions. These very basic concepts in R (e.g. vector, matrix, array, listing, data frame, factor) can be very tricky. This book will clear all these confusions for you lot, and provide you a very systematic way to report R programming with very unproblematic examples. A must-read! The first 7 capacity are greats. I skipped the parallel programming and debugging chapters. ...more

Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will exercise my right whether yous agree or not. I don't.
In short, overall, it is a worthy book. It touches nigh of the aspects when programming in a modern, Big Data capable linguistic communication R. And not quite at the aforementioned time. To elaborate more than, allow me country right abroad this is not Norman's error. Its R'southward. Acquit on. Starting from the starting time pages till the concluding you will exist made very well aware that R is slow. Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will exercise my correct whether you agree or not. I don't.
In short, overall, it is a worthy book. It touches most of the aspects when programming in a modernistic, Large Data capable linguistic communication R. And not quite at the aforementioned time. To elaborate more than, let me country correct away this is not Norman'southward fault. Its R'southward. Acquit on. Starting from the outset pages till the concluding yous will exist fabricated very well aware that R is tiresome. I was even annoyed by the abiding reminders, however I did not deduct the star for that. I must tell you even before ownership this book I did some research and constitute out that Julia (julialang.org) is a way better designed statistics programming linguistic communication, alas it stuck at the RC 0.three level for also long and apparently there is no good literature to learn information technology (all the same, as I know of a new volume in cooking). Did I say this book was highly recommend? Yet, it seems that the R buzz has penetrated all the Big Information remote corners (err, I mean cubicles). R remains valuable, coming out the academia to mere mortals.
So, an R programmer will benefit from knowing C, GPU, sockets and threads, will spend time debugging in an editor or shell and take on lawmaking performance optimizations. Not for a timid soul.
The volume is not going to make your a totally ready to get and plan, but it will prepare a solid background for the further R exploration. This book needs to be read among the first. I found the comprehension is too shallow to marker it five stars.
I advice to the author and publisher, the book needs a second edition, refresh. ...more than

Oct 14, 2016 Matija rated it it was ok

At that place is much that I didn't like about this book. Programming examples in the first two thirds of the text are mostly irrelevant and contrived, like doing quick sort by hand, or calculating probabilities by bones arithmetics operations. R is treated as a general purpose programming language, and almost no direction is given in how any real globe statistical code would be written in it. Some good insights are provided on how R works, or how it's unlike from what programmers coming from other la There is much that I didn't similar most this book. Programming examples in the commencement 2 thirds of the text are mostly irrelevant and contrived, like doing quick sort by hand, or calculating probabilities by basic arithmetics operations. R is treated equally a full general purpose programming language, and about no direction is given in how any existent world statistical code would be written in it. Some proficient insights are provided on how R works, or how it's different from what programmers coming from other languages might expect, simply in my opinion not enough to warrant a book. The text is often imprecise and paw-wavy (e.thou. something like - I paraphrase: "this approach will mostly piece of work well, but sometimes R will not optimize some parts well, and then you have to be careful"), and I often had the feeling that long pieces of lawmaking and subsequent code reviews were provided with no good reason.

Having thus driven this book to the ground, I take to say that professor Matloff seems very knowledgeable in R internals, C and C++ programming and various kinds of parallel and high-performance computation - all subjects treated in the final third of the volume. I weren't looking for those in a book called "The Fine art of R Programming", only they were somewhat interesting. If these subjects interest you, you might find some practiced information in this book (only beware the first ii thirds). If you are looking for a good book to learn R, pick upward something else. By no ways should you read this as your get-go book on R - I wouldn't exist learning it now if this was my first book on it, equally information technology gives absolutely no justification why it'southward worth the time.

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February 06, 2012 Peter rated it really liked it

This book is more of a CS text than a stats text and the author makes this very clear. Regardless, it is a very good overview of R's information types and features. Great emphasis is placed on performance and properly vectorizing code witha brief overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging section is more readable than Sleeping accommodation's "Software for Information Analysis", but not every bit consummate. The writer recommends his ain volume for better understanding of debugging. There is a useful department on integrating This book is more of a CS text than a stats text and the writer makes this very articulate. Regardless, it is a very good overview of R'due south data types and features. Dandy accent is placed on performance and properly vectorizing code witha brief overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging section is more readable than Chamber's "Software for Data Assay", simply not as complete. The author recommends his own volume for ameliorate agreement of debugging. There is a useful section on integrating R and Python using RPy, which I found very useful.

Overall, I found the book very useful. I previously had fairly extensive noesis of general R syntax and functions, simply this text was good for getting a slightly more formal and in depth run through of diverse R quirks. Definitely one of the all-time books on R.

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This volume provides a good R overview and I did savor it. That said, I will point out two perceived flaws. Commencement, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics noesis. I didn't spend the fourth dimension to try to enquiry just would have similar an overview in some places. Secondly, perchance compounding this, example data is available for only a small set of problems. This does make it hard to follow forth. This book provides a good R overview and I did relish it. That said, I will point out two perceived flaws. First, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics knowledge. I didn't spend the fourth dimension to endeavor to research simply would have similar an overview in some places. Secondly, perhaps compounding this, example information is available for simply a small set of bug. This does brand it difficult to follow along. ...more

This book introduces with the key information structures like vectors,factors, matrices, dataframes, lists, etc. with a chapter dedicated to each. Book serves the purpose to innovate the programming structure to those new to R.

After getting good at the nuts of R, one can go for other books for specific requirements (similar whether you want to focus on graphics/plots or on statistical modelling).

Jul 19, 2013 Earo rated it really liked information technology

LIKE: 1) It takes readers from non-programming background on a wide range of topics from information structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the core art of R. 2) Extended examples (functions) are very applied. Different: one) No practice at the terminate of each affiliate. 2) Variable & function names aren't that readable. Lots of abbreviation involved. LIKE: one) It takes readers from non-programming background on a wide range of topics from information structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the cadre art of R. ii) Extended examples (functions) are very practical. Different: 1) No practise at the end of each chapter. 2) Variable & office names aren't that readable. Lots of abbreviation involved. ...more

Jun 26, 2013 Michael Bail rated it really liked it

This book is very serious. It gets yous way beyond the beginners books, and in fact, there is more than material than I demand here, but information technology is what I asked for. It does an exceptional job explaining how to think about vectorized programming, which is one of the big shifts for typical programmers.

Jul 03, 2020 Goo rated it it was ok

I read some of this when kickoff learning R. This book is more like a conventional book for learning a programming language, whereas most introductory R books are an introduction to doing statistical data analysis using R while skipping the technical details of the language.

Apr thirty, 2012 Matt Yancey rated it it was amazing

This is a great resource for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this book come from it'south examples and great arrangement. This is a great resource for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this volume come up from it's examples and great organization. ...more

May 06, 2014 Mel rated it it was amazing

This is one of the all-time book to acquire R programming language, it's consummate and with details. I recommend it to everyone that want to learn this programming language.

(Lebanese Volume Lover)

This is one of the all-time volume to acquire R programming language, information technology's complete and with details. I recommend it to anybody that want to learn this programming language.

(Lebanese Book Lover)

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This is a great introduction to base R and likewise a practiced reference for some more intermediate-advanced topics (vectorization, paralellization, etc.). The writing is very clear and accessible.

Mar xiv, 2016 Sile Li rated it really liked information technology

A very good handbook for beginners with lots of examples and tips.

A beautiful introduction to R, especially for a software engineer.

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