[R-sig-DB] Database R Package

[Julien Moeys]

Hi

I think packages that simplify database handling from R, for non-expert users, potentially can be very useful. As you said, database script language is not always easy for beginners.

I have myself programmed an R packages (http://easydb.r-forge.r-project.org/) that makes it easier to read, write and subset data to and from SQLite, MySQL, MS Access and MS Excel (based on RSQLite and RODBC). I found that it speeds-up the development of R-Database applications, reduces the amount of code, and makes it easier to switch from one database system to another. It also saves some time when helping other R users writing scripts that involve a database.

On the other hand it is not easy to make sure such a package will always work as expected. I don't know any way to run tests that involve a local database server during the package compilation on CRAN or r-forge (are there any?). 

There are several other projects with similar ideas:
- dfdb (http://r-forge.r-project.org/projects/dfdb-rodbc/)
- dbframe (https://github.com/gcalhoun/dbframe-R-library)

You may find r-forge useful if you are not sure it is ready for CRAN.

All the best

Julien Moeys
PS: I shall precise that I am not a database "expert", but rather a regular user of database systems.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-sig-db-bounces using r-project.org [mailto:r-sig-db-bounces using r-
> project.org] On Behalf Of Jim Jones
> Sent: 18 June 2012 11:56
> To: Prof Brian Ripley; r-sig-db using r-project.org
> Subject: Re: [R-sig-DB] Database R Package
> 
> Dear Prof. Ripley,
> 
> Thanks a lot for your feedback!
> 
> You're right, the packages DBI and RODBC already provide R-level interfaces
> for databases. My proposed package actually depend on them. What I
> wanted to propose is to have predifined functions, e.g. pgCreateTablespace,
> so that the user doesn't need to care about the database script language, but
> just need to call the package functions and provide the necessary
> parameters. Something simple that in my opinion saves some time.
> 
> Best,
> Jim Jones
> 
> 2012/6/18 Prof Brian Ripley <ripley using stats.ox.ac.uk>
> 
> > On 17/06/2012 10:59, Jim Jones wrote:
> >
> >> Gentlemen,
> >>
> >> Last winter at university in the R Programming course I developed an
> >> R Package (so far called rdba) for dealing with some DBA tasks from R
> >> scripts. The package basically avoids the need of the user to have
> >> knowledge of database (PostgreSQL + PostGIS) scripts to manage their
> >> databases. It aims to facilitate the scripts development when "on the fly"
> >> you need to handle databases and tablespaces in a physical level.
> >>
> >> The package contains the following functions:
> >>
> >> Create Database (With or without a template) Drop Databse List
> >> Database Database Exists
> >>
> >> Create Tablespace
> >> Drop Tablespace
> >> List Tablespace
> >> Rename Tablespace
> >> Tablespace Exists
> >> Change Owner Tablespace
> >>
> >> ListUsers
> >> UserExists
> >>
> >> I would like to hear your opinion about submitting it to CRAN, since
> >> I'm new in the list and you are the experts. Initially I just wrote
> >> the functions for PostgreSQL, but it is already in my plans to extend
> >> it to Oracle and SQL Server. What do you think?
> >>
> >
> > I think you are re-inventing the wheel.  Please see the R posting
> > guide (it asks for no HTML, for example), especially about doing your
> > homework before posting.
> >
> > Both RODBC and DBI provide R-level interfaces to this kind of thing
> > the latter with a few backends including RPostgreSQL and ROracle (but
> > not SQL Server).  'Owner' is not really a portable concept: see the
> > RODBC manual for how it and similar things are implemented in a range
> > of DBMSs
> >
> > CRAN does not make value judgements about usefulness of packages, so
> > duplication is no bar there.
> >
> >
> >> Best,
> >>
> >> Jim Jones
> >> University of Münster
> >> Germany
> >>
> >>        [[alternative HTML version deleted]]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ______________________________**_________________
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> >> /mailman/listinfo/r-sig-db>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Brian D. Ripley,                  ripley using stats.ox.ac.uk
> > Professor of Applied Statistics,
> http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~**ripley/<http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/%7Eripley/
> >
> > University of Oxford,             Tel:  +44 1865 272861 (self)
> > 1 South Parks Road,                     +44 1865 272866 (PA)
> > Oxford OX1 3TG, UK                Fax:  +44 1865 272595
> >
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> >
> 
> 	[[alternative HTML version deleted]]