The Art of R Programming a Tour of Statistical Software Design 1st Edition

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Kickoff your review of The Art of R Programming: A Tour of Statistical Software Design

Jun sixteen, 2011 Michael rated it actually liked it

First things first, this volume actually lives upwards to its proper name! It's a thorough introduction to programming in R, aimed at software developers. This is not the book for you if you want to learn about the statistics side of R or how to make prettier plots, there are plenty of books about that anyway.

What I really like is that the writer never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, considering I always go turned off when books start with a sales pitch for something I already clearly s

Beginning things first, this book actually lives up to its name! It's a thorough introduction to programming in R, aimed at software developers. This is non the book for you if you want to learn well-nigh the statistics side of R or how to make prettier plots, at that place are plenty of books about that anyhow.

What I really like is that the author never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, because I always get turned off when books start with a sales pitch for something I already clearly showed interest in by purchasing the book. R is a rather specialized language and chances are that you lot know why yous want to solve a given trouble in it, and if you don't, this might not yet be the volume you should be reading anyhow. The first few chapters cover the linguistic communication's bones data structures like vectors, matrices, arrays, lists and tables, before chapter vii introduces various period control structures. What follows is a chapter on doing math and simulations in R, which is non overly long but gives some skilful examples of what the language is useful for. The side by side chapter is very interesting, information technology deals with R's object oriented features and describes the differences betwixt S3 and S4 classes also as their respective up and down sides. After this the author covers input/output, dealing with strings and R's graphing capabilities. He never gets lost in detail, but provides you with enough info to be able to explore these areas on your own. What really makes the book special though are the last few chapters, where Matloff covers debugging (a topic he also wrote an entire volume nearly), operation tradeoffs, interfacing R with other programming languages (using functions written in C/C++ from R, too equally using R in Python) and various approaches to parallelizing R. While none of this may audio super exciting at showtime — apart from parallelism maybe — these are important issues in the daily lives of software developers and manner too many books only gloss over them.

Now for some criticism: personally I don't detect the author's mode very engaging, it's rather dry and dull at times. Since information technology's articulate that Matloff is an absolute dominance on the topic of R this doesn't way too heavily, but still deserves a mention. Also for my personal taste there are slightly too many forward references in the text, although that's difficult to avoid if yous desire to properly cover a language. I as well found it rather odd that at one point the writer mentions that explicit return statements aren't exactly idiomatic in R, only that he volition go along using them for the benefit of readers unaccustomed to the language. Given that this was a few capacity in, information technology would have been a perfect spot to switch to the more than idiomatic style from and so on, only maybe that's just me being nitpicky. I also noticed several fiddling typos and misspellings, something I'chiliad not really used to from No Starch Press.

All in all this is a very solid book, which you lot definitely should pick up if you want to learn programming in R!

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Jul 22, 2021 Lindajacob rated information technology did not similar it

Really bad book. Very basic and ordinary. There is much improve cloth available online for free.

January 19, 2020 Vysloczil is currently reading information technology

In 2020 this title is slightly outdated, but still a must read if you lot want to up your R game. If yous think virtually buying one book at a good toll, and so get this one and complement it with the free online version of Hadley Wickham's Advanced R (now in version two!).
Exist aware that for some of the problems there are better solutions around already, most importantly:
* for the connection with python there is now the reticulate bundle
* for parallel calculating much changed
* through Hadley's dplyr and strin In 2020 this title is slightly outdated, merely still a must read if you want to up your R game. If yous retrieve nearly buying one book at a good price, then get this one and complement it with the gratis online version of Hadley Wickham'due south Advanced R (now in version 2!).
Be aware that for some of the problems in that location are improve solutions around already, almost importantly:
* for the connection with python there is now the reticulate package
* for parallel computing much changed
* through Hadley's dplyr and stringr (and another packages like purrr when information technology comes to functional programming) much ameliorate and smoother solutions are around for common problems ...more

May xv, 2013 Philipp rated it actually liked it

If you lot're looking for a book to read as a full-on introduction to R (and advanced R), take this volume.
Non merely does it go through all of the basics of the language, it also recommends some modern packages which make everything easier (plyr for case) - with copious examples and "advanced examples".

I simply accept two problems with the book:

1) Sometimes, the advanced examples are too clever for their own adept. They're meant to exhibit the avant-garde usage of the main focus of the current chapter, but

If you're looking for a volume to read equally a full-on introduction to R (and advanced R), accept this book.
Non only does it go through all of the basics of the language, it as well recommends some modern packages which brand everything easier (plyr for case) - with copious examples and "advanced examples".

I only have ii bug with the book:

ane) Sometimes, the avant-garde examples are too clever for their own skilful. They're meant to exhibit the advanced usage of the main focus of the current chapter, just they so often practice something exceedingly clever that you start have to become through the code step past footstep with a slice of paper to understand the bones algorithm. Only then tin you proceed and empathize the usage of the information-construction or control-structure in question.
ii) It can't determine whether it's an introduction or a reference. The book is written and structured similar an introduction, but it seems to be on a quest to introduce the majority of standard functions that R has (and they are legion). I'm pretty sure I already forgot nigh 80% of the introduced functions.

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Feb nineteen, 2020 Tassos rated it really liked it

Although I did not read from cover to comprehend, and I mainly skimmed through the chapters, I can say that this is an excellent introduction to R for beginners and even moderate R users.

You are nearly to get superpowers by mastering this fine art. As a result, the digital world will look quite unlike. Big blobs of bytes are suddenly playgrounds. You will load "any" to your vectorized universe just like creating a pond pool with many many lanes. And so yous deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff hidden. If you don't feel like swimming today, just wing, run, crawl, dance… this R matter is so flexible that you can even throw numbers in the air like a mad You are virtually to go superpowers by mastering this art. As a consequence, the digital world will wait quite unlike. Big blobs of bytes are suddenly playgrounds. Yous will load "whatever" to your vectorized universe just like creating a swimming pool with many many lanes. So you deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff subconscious. If you don't feel like swimming today, just fly, run, crawl, dance… this R thing is and then flexible that you can fifty-fifty throw numbers in the air like a mad magician (wait a second… writing a Part for that). ...more

This was my first R book. I worked through a expert bit of it but still felt that there was a lot missing in my agreement of R. Something well-nigh the fashion it is organized or the way it explains things didn't quite do it for me. I concluded up getting another book that explained R a lot better to me. I still refer to this book on occasion merely I have institute R in Activeness to be much more than helpful. This was my outset R volume. I worked through a adept bit of it but nonetheless felt that there was a lot missing in my understanding of R. Something well-nigh the style it is organized or the way it explains things didn't quite do it for me. I ended upwards getting another book that explained R a lot improve to me. I still refer to this book on occasion but I have institute R in Activity to exist much more helpful. ...more

Like most programming books, this ane focuses too much on syntax and information structures, and non plenty on bug you tin solve with the linguistic communication. Merely other than that it'due south well-written. If you want to do anything having to do with statistics, R is a great linguistic communication, and this book will teach you lot how to use information technology.
Similar almost programming books, this one focuses too much on syntax and data structures, and not enough on problems y'all can solve with the language. But other than that information technology's well-written. If you want to do annihilation having to practise with statistics, R is a great language, and this book will teach y'all how to employ information technology.
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This book IMHO is an excellent starting point for learning R. I'm finding it really useful for beginners similar me to learn this new programming linguistic communication. The volume is comprehensive and well-illustrated.

The initial chapters talk about the foundation concepts like vectors and matrices. The examples are simple enough to start with, while the writer leaves some room for self-experimentation. The latter chapters describe the advanced capabilities similar graphics, debugging and performance tuning.

Needles

This book IMHO is an fantabulous starting point for learning R. I'm finding it really useful for beginners like me to learn this new programming language. The book is comprehensive and well-illustrated.

The initial chapters talk about the foundation concepts like vectors and matrices. The examples are simple enough to start with, while the author leaves some room for self-experimentation. The latter chapters draw the advanced capabilities similar graphics, debugging and performance tuning.

Needless to say, I'll require a lot of practise to get comfortable thinking in R terms, but this volume definitely laid the stepping rock for me.

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Mar 21, 2018 Terran M rated it information technology was amazing

I found this book to be pedagogically excellent with well-considered ordering and progression and a cogent conceptual presentation. Note that this book covers the cadre R language, information structures, and some utilities - it does not cover model fitting and it has only a very cursory treatment of the base of operations graphics. This is an excellent first book on R, since one can't do much without understanding the language itself, merely it must be supplemented by other books on ggplot2 or lattice for graphics and I institute this book to be pedagogically excellent with well-considered ordering and progression and a cogent conceptual presentation. Note that this volume covers the core R linguistic communication, data structures, and some utilities - information technology does not cover model plumbing fixtures and it has only a very cursory treatment of the base graphics. This is an splendid first book on R, since one tin can't practice much without agreement the language itself, but it must exist supplemented by other books on ggplot2 or lattice for graphics and split books for analysis.

This book is primarily a tutorial. The index is of mediocre comprehensiveness so I cannot recommend it as a reference book.

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Aug 18, 2017 Ashley rated it information technology was amazing

This is 1 of the best books for learning R. I have read numerous R books and this is my favorite. Information technology is likewise the preferred text of students who piece of work under me. They are constantly borrowing my copy of this book.

Jun 08, 2018 Willo rated it really liked it

A good book, telling you stuff you lot won't learn from man pages and websites A good volume, telling you stuff you won't learn from man pages and websites ...more

Feb xiv, 2020 Yuan rated information technology information technology was amazing

I learned R in a very piecemeal fashion, via learning packages and using functions inside. Somehow I feel all the packages are isolated islands, I have trouble to "glue" them or understand why they were designed in such ways. Especially I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, listing, assortment, matrix, data frame, factor and tables with the package functions. These very basic concepts in R (east.g. vector, matrix, array, list, data frame, factor) can be very tricky. This volume will clear I learned R in a very piecemeal fashion, via learning packages and using functions within. Somehow I feel all the packages are isolated islands, I have trouble to "gum" them or empathise why they were designed in such ways. Specially I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, list, array, matrix, data frame, factor and tables with the parcel functions. These very basic concepts in R (due east.g. vector, matrix, array, list, data frame, factor) can be very tricky. This book volition articulate all these confusions for you, and provide you a very systematic way to study R programming with very simple examples. A must-read! The outset 7 chapters are greats. I skipped the parallel programming and debugging chapters. ...more than

Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will exercise my right whether you agree or not. I don't.
In short, overall, it is a worthy book. It touches most of the aspects when programming in a modern, Big Data capable language R. And not quite at the same fourth dimension. To elaborate more, let me state right away this is not Norman's error. Its R's. Acquit on. Starting from the first pages till the last yous will be fabricated very well aware that R is slow. Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will exercise my right whether you agree or not. I don't.
In brusque, overall, it is a worthy book. It touches virtually of the aspects when programming in a modernistic, Big Data capable linguistic communication R. And not quite at the same time. To elaborate more, let me state right away this is non Norman's fault. Its R'southward. Bear on. Starting from the beginning pages till the last you volition be made very well enlightened that R is slow. I was fifty-fifty annoyed by the constant reminders, however I did non deduct the star for that. I must tell you even before buying this volume I did some research and found out that Julia (julialang.org) is a way improve designed statistics programming language, alas it stuck at the RC 0.iii level for as well long and apparently there is no good literature to learn information technology (however, equally I know of a new volume in cooking). Did I say this book was highly recommend? All the same, it seems that the R fizz has penetrated all the Big Information remote corners (err, I hateful cubicles). R remains valuable, coming out the academia to mere mortals.
Then, an R developer will benefit from knowing C, GPU, sockets and threads, volition spend time debugging in an editor or shell and take on code functioning optimizations. Not for a timid soul.
The book is not going to make your a totally ready to go and plan, simply information technology volition prepare a solid background for the further R exploration. This book needs to be read among the kickoff. I institute the comprehension is too shallow to mark it v stars.
Ane advice to the author and publisher, the volume needs a 2nd edition, refresh. ...more than

October 14, 2016 Matija rated it information technology was ok

At that place is much that I didn't like well-nigh this book. Programming examples in the first two thirds of the text are mostly irrelevant and contrived, similar doing quick sort past hand, or calculating probabilities by basic arithmetics operations. R is treated as a general purpose programming linguistic communication, and almost no management is given in how any real world statistical lawmaking would exist written in it. Some practiced insights are provided on how R works, or how information technology's different from what programmers coming from other la There is much that I didn't like almost this book. Programming examples in the first two thirds of the text are more often than not irrelevant and contrived, like doing quick sort past hand, or computing probabilities by bones arithmetic operations. R is treated as a full general purpose programming language, and most no management is given in how whatever real world statistical lawmaking would be written in information technology. Some practiced insights are provided on how R works, or how it's dissimilar from what programmers coming from other languages might expect, merely in my opinion not plenty to warrant a book. The text is often imprecise and hand-wavy (e.g. something similar - I paraphrase: "this approach volition generally work well, simply sometimes R volition not optimize some parts well, and then you lot take to be careful"), and I often had the feeling that long pieces of code and subsequent code reviews were provided with no practiced reason.

Having thus driven this book to the basis, I have to say that professor Matloff seems very knowledgeable in R internals, C and C++ programming and various kinds of parallel and high-performance ciphering - all subjects treated in the terminal third of the book. I weren't looking for those in a book called "The Art of R Programming", but they were somewhat interesting. If these subjects interest yous, you might detect some expert information in this book (but beware the outset ii thirds). If you are looking for a good book to learn R, pick up something else. Past no means should yous read this every bit your starting time book on R - I wouldn't be learning it now if this was my first book on it, every bit it gives absolutely no justification why it's worth the time.

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Feb 06, 2012 Peter rated information technology really liked information technology

This book is more of a CS text than a stats text and the author makes this very clear. Regardless, it is a very skilful overview of R's information types and features. Slap-up emphasis is placed on performance and properly vectorizing code witha brief overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging section is more readable than Chamber'due south "Software for Information Assay", but not as complete. The writer recommends his own book for meliorate understanding of debugging. There is a useful department on integrating This book is more of a CS text than a stats text and the author makes this very clear. Regardless, it is a very proficient overview of R'southward information types and features. Slap-up accent is placed on performance and properly vectorizing code witha cursory overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging section is more than readable than Chamber's "Software for Data Analysis", but not as complete. The author recommends his own book for improve understanding of debugging. There is a useful section on integrating R and Python using RPy, which I found very useful.

Overall, I found the book very useful. I previously had fairly extensive knowledge of general R syntax and functions, but this text was practiced for getting a slightly more formal and in depth run through of various R quirks. Definitely one of the best books on R.

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This volume provides a expert R overview and I did savor it. That said, I volition point out 2 perceived flaws. Commencement, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics knowledge. I didn't spend the time to try to research but would have like an overview in some places. Secondly, mayhap compounding this, instance information is available for but a small fix of bug. This does go far difficult to follow along. This book provides a skillful R overview and I did enjoy it. That said, I volition betoken out two perceived flaws. First, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics knowledge. I didn't spend the time to try to research but would take like an overview in some places. Secondly, perchance compounding this, case data is available for only a minor set of problems. This does brand it difficult to follow along. ...more

This book introduces with the central data structures like vectors,factors, matrices, dataframes, lists, etc. with a chapter dedicated to each. Book serves the purpose to innovate the programming construction to those new to R.

After getting good at the basics of R, one can go for other books for specific requirements (like whether you desire to focus on graphics/plots or on statistical modelling).

Jul 19, 2013 Earo rated it really liked it

LIKE: 1) It takes readers from non-programming groundwork on a wide range of topics from data structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the cadre fine art of R. ii) Extended examples (functions) are very practical. Dissimilar: i) No exercise at the end of each affiliate. two) Variable & function names aren't that readable. Lots of abridgement involved. LIKE: ane) It takes readers from non-programming background on a wide range of topics from data structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the cadre fine art of R. 2) Extended examples (functions) are very practical. UNLIKE: 1) No exercise at the end of each chapter. 2) Variable & office names aren't that readable. Lots of abridgement involved. ...more

Jun 26, 2013 Michael Bond rated it really liked it

This volume is very serious. It gets you way across the beginners books, and in fact, at that place is more textile than I demand here, just it is what I asked for. Information technology does an exceptional job explaining how to recall nigh vectorized programming, which is 1 of the big shifts for typical programmers.

Jul 03, 2020 Goo rated it it was ok

I read some of this when first learning R. This book is more similar a conventional volume for learning a programming linguistic communication, whereas about introductory R books are an introduction to doing statistical data analysis using R while skipping the technical details of the language.

Apr 30, 2012 Matt Yancey rated it it was amazing

This is a dandy resource for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this volume come up from it's examples and great organisation. This is a peachy resource for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this book come from it's examples and great organization. ...more than

May 06, 2014 Mel rated it information technology was amazing

This is ane of the best book to learn R programming linguistic communication, it's consummate and with details. I recommend it to everyone that want to larn this programming language.

(Lebanese Book Lover)

This is one of the best book to learn R programming language, it's complete and with details. I recommend it to everyone that want to learn this programming language.

(Lebanese Book Lover)

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This is a corking introduction to base R and also a good reference for some more than intermediate-advanced topics (vectorization, paralellization, etc.). The writing is very clear and accessible.

Mar 14, 2016 Sile Li rated it actually liked information technology

A very proficient handbook for beginners with lots of examples and tips.

A beautiful introduction to R, especially for a software engineer.

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