R-alpha: machine-independent .Rdata

[Ross Ihaka]

Luke Tierney writes:
 > If a move toward machine-independent representation seems reasonable,
 > it may be worth looking at some of the binary data exchange formats
 > used by nasa and others,
 > 
 > 	CDF http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cdf/cdf_home.html
 > 	netCDF http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/packages/netcdf/index.html
 > 	HDF http://hdf.ncsa.uiuc.edu/
 > 
 > There may also be something useful in the "Scientific Data Format
 > Information FAQ"
 > (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/fits/traffic/scidataformats/faq.html).

I've certainly given this and xdr the odd microsecond of thought.  A
platform independent data format would be very nice.  If someone would
like to look at this - or assign it as homework to a student (mine's
doing equations in plots :-) it would be very useful.  You don't have
to plug it into R, just find out what's invoved.

I'm about to be faced with a third year data analysis course with 100+
students so it won't be me ...
	Ross
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