Subject: Re: [R] History of R From: andy bush Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:23:11 -0800 (PST) To: r-help@r-project.org Kathy Gerber wrote: > > > > Earlier today I sent a question to Frank Harrell as an R developer with > > whom I am most familiar. He suggested also that I put my questions to > > the list for additional responses. Next month I'll be giving a talk on > > R as an example of high quality open source software. I think there is > > much to learn from R as a high quality extensible product that (at least > > as far as I can tell) has never been "spun" or "hyped" like so many open > > source fads. > > > > The question that intrigues me the most is why is R as an open source > > project is so incredibly successful and other projects, say for example, > > Octave don't enjoy that level of success? > > > > I have some ideas of course, but I would really like to know your > > thoughts when you look at R from such a vantage point. > > > > Thanks. > > Kathy Gerber > > University of Virginia > > ITC - Research Computing Support > > > > ______________________________________________ > > R-help@r-project.org mailing list > > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > > PLEASE do read the posting guide > > http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code. > > > > Kathy, If you don't mind, I'll also throw in my perspective as a 60+ year-old new-comer to R. For me there are at least three hugely appealing aspects to R. First, since it is totally free, R is accessible to those poor in material wealth but rich in intellectual curiosity wherever they live. I personally think that is extremely important. Second, contributors to R are selflessly and continuously doing quite a lot to improve approaches to the analysis of data (and there is such a rich history of that growing daily). I have to say that I am in awe of what I see already developed in R and know from the frequency of updates that the entire enterprise is alive, well and growing. Third, R is just flat out wonderful - I know it rekindles my energy making me feel like a "kid in a candy store" again who wants to see what's new, learn more, and contribute. I truthfully can't think of another element in my professional life that makes me feel so strongly this way. I've never seen anything before like R and I'm just grateful to have lived long enough to experience it. I know that I owe a debt of gratitude to R-developers from top to bottom - and I'm certain I'm not alone in this. In summary, let me just say WOW! You can bet that I've incorporated R into all the graduate classes I teach. It so challenges and opens the imagination. Andy Bush ps This is not a solicited remark. It is simply what I personally think and feel. -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/History-of-R-tp15508906p15578677.html Sent from the R help mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.