[R-pkgs] Rassist - Student-friendly package

[Andrew Robinson]

The Rassist package has been loaded to CRAN.  This package is designed
to make R easier for new users, by providing extra checks and
feedback. 

Presently the package functionality includes:

* offers an alternative help facility, eg(.), with examples first,
  with additional examples included.  eg() offers a start help menu,
  and eg(.) incorporates help.search(.) automatically.  It also
  locates the relevant package if not loaded.

* Some mathematical functions validate input received.  They give
  feedback on units used, and when in error, prompt the user to
  correct the input.

* plot(.) offers feedback and cautions about input format.  

* deskcheck incorporates debug(), in straight forward testing.

* source(.), under development, in error produces a directory listing.

We believe that much remains to be done, but we wanted to solicit
community feedback from interested parties. Please pass on suggestions
for other functions, or better ways to achieve the same goals, to me.

Cheers

Andrew

-- 
Andrew Robinson  
Department of Mathematics and Statistics            Tel: +61-3-8344-9763
University of Melbourne, VIC 3010 Australia         Fax: +61-3-8344-4599
Email: a.robinson at ms.unimelb.edu.au         http://www.ms.unimelb.edu.au