[R-wiki] R as a programming language

[Philippe Grosjean]

Roger,

Thank you for pointing us this reference. I especially appreciate how an 
algorithm work is depicted. Look, for instance, at 
http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book-Z-H-11.html, 1.2.1 
Linear Recursion and Iteration, Fig 1.3. It is a very simple figure, but 
  it explains very clearly how the recursive function "factorial" works.

I think it should be of a great use to explain to beginners simple 
things the same way. For instance, to explain recycling rule, or how 
apply() and the like work (but these are just examples).
Best,

Philippe Grosjean


Roger Bivand wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Jan 2006, Patrick Burns wrote:
> 
> 
>>In gathering opinions relative to the UCLA tech report,
>>it seems that part of the difficulty of learning R is that it
>>is a programming language.  This comes both from Jon
>>Baron and from a SAS/R user with no programming
>>background.
>>
>>In the light of this it seems like having a page on the wiki
>>that is an introduction to programming would be a good
>>idea. Some people probably muddle programming
>>problems and data analysis problems together and are not
>>able to see their way out of either.
>>
>>Such a page might also encourage the use of R as a
>>language to be used when teaching programming.  If we
>>can get kids learning R before they are effective at complaining,
>>then we'll have an easier time in future.
> 
> 
> I'm sure I'm quite out of line, but a big flashing warning somewhere to 
> alert hopeful users to the fact that reading is associated (maybe used to 
> be?) with learning might be useful? Perhaps a reference to:
> 
> http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/
> 
> given R's genetic relationship to Scheme? Just reading Chapter 1 Section 1 
> is still a thought-provoking and rewarding experience ... and yields quite 
> unprecedented returns on time invested (certainly compared to just 
> clicking around software hoping it will "explain itself").
> 
> Roger
> 
> PS:
> 
> Maybe a phrasebook from SICP Ch1S1 to R:
> 
> 
>>"+"(137, 349)
> 
> [1] 486
> 
>>"/"(10, 5)
> 
> [1] 2
> ...
> 
>>"+"("*"(3, 5), "-"(10, 6))
> 
> [1] 19
> ...
> 
>>size <- 2
>>"*"(5, size)
> 
> [1] 10
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>Pat
>>
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> 
>