[R-sig-eco] Improving efficiency in a simulation model

[Dulce M. Bustamante]

Hello,

I am pursuing the development of an individual-based model in R 
but there is a series of technical issues for which I don't know 
where to find information.

I have written R functions before for simple simulations, but this 
model will have more complexities and each individual will need to 
be evaluated in many aspects at each time step.  My major concern 
is that I don't know how to make my program more efficient in 
terms of using computer memory and computation time.

What is the maximum matrix size that R could handle?

I have read that R could interact with C and that that can be an 
"extremely effective mode for numerical computation" (Bates and 
DebRoy, DSC 2003 Working Papers).  I have looked for papers on HOW 
TO make R and C interact but I can not find many references and 
would appreciate suggestions.

Would my model benefit from using object oriented programming in 
terms of making the procedures go faster in terms of updating 
matrices after time steps?

Thank you for your time.

Dulce M. Bustamante
Ph.D. Candidate
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory
University of Florida
200 9th Street SE
Vero Beach, FL 32962