Art of R Programming a Tour of Statistical Software Design Datasers

,

• Habitation
• My Books

Open up Preview

Run across a Problem?

We'd love your help. Let us know what's wrong with this preview of The Fine art of R Programming by Norman Matloff.

Thanks for telling us about the trouble.

Friend Reviews

To encounter what your friends thought of this volume, please sign upward.

Community Reviews

 · 559 ratings  · 30 reviews

Showtime your review of The Art of R Programming: A Tour of Statistical Software Blueprint

Jun 16, 2011 Michael rated it actually liked it

First things first, this book really lives up to its name! It'due south 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 author never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, because I always get turned off when books beginning with a sales pitch for something I already clearly south

First things first, this volume really lives up to its name! It's a thorough introduction to programming in R, aimed at software developers. This is non the volume for you if yous desire to larn about the statistics side of R or how to make prettier plots, there are plenty of books virtually that anyhow.

What I actually similar is that the author never tries to "sell" R to the reader. This is rather refreshing, because I e'er get turned off when books offset with a sales pitch for something I already clearly showed involvement in by purchasing the book. R is a rather specialized language and chances are that you know why you lot want to solve a given problem in it, and if you don't, this might not yet be the book you should exist reading anyway. The showtime few capacity cover the language'due south basic data structures like vectors, matrices, arrays, lists and tables, before affiliate 7 introduces various catamenia control structures. What follows is a chapter on doing math and simulations in R, which is non overly long simply gives some good examples of what the language is useful for. The next affiliate is very interesting, it deals with R's object oriented features and describes the differences between S3 and S4 classes too equally their respective up and down sides. After this the author covers input/output, dealing with strings and R'southward 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 terminal few chapters, where Matloff covers debugging (a topic he also wrote an entire book about), performance tradeoffs, interfacing R with other programming languages (using functions written in C/C++ from R, as well as using R in Python) and various approaches to parallelizing R. While none of this may sound super exciting at start — apart from parallelism maybe — these are important issues in the daily lives of software developers and way besides many books just gloss over them.

Now for some criticism: personally I don't observe the author's mode very engaging, it'southward rather dry out and boring at times. Since it'due south clear that Matloff is an absolute say-so on the topic of R this doesn't manner as well heavily, but still deserves a mention. Too for my personal taste there are slightly also many forward references in the text, although that'south hard to avert if yous want to properly cover a language. I also establish it rather odd that at one indicate the author mentions that explicit return statements aren't exactly idiomatic in R, only that he volition keep using them for the benefit of readers unaccustomed to the linguistic communication. Given that this was a few chapters in, it would have been a perfect spot to switch to the more than idiomatic manner from then on, only maybe that'southward just me being nitpicky. I also noticed several little typos and misspellings, something I'1000 not actually used to from No Starch Press.

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

...more

Jul 22, 2021 Lindajacob rated it did not like it

Actually bad volume. Very bones and ordinary. At that place is much better material available online for free.

January 19, 2020 Vysloczil is currently reading information technology

In 2020 this championship is slightly outdated, but still a must read if you want to up your R game. If you lot remember nigh buying one book at a skilful price, so go this one and complement it with the free online version of Hadley Wickham's Avant-garde R (now in version 2!).
Exist aware that for some of the bug at that place are better solutions around already, nearly importantly:
* for the connection with python at that place is at present the reticulate package
* for parallel calculating much changed
* through Hadley'south dplyr and strin In 2020 this title is slightly outdated, but still a must read if you want to up your R game. If y'all think about buying one book at a good price, then become this 1 and complement it with the free online version of Hadley Wickham's Advanced R (now in version 2!).
Exist enlightened that for some of the problems there are amend solutions around already, most importantly:
* for the connectedness with python in that location is at present the reticulate package
* for parallel computing much inverse
* through Hadley's dplyr and stringr (and some other packages similar purrr when it comes to functional programming) much better and smoother solutions are effectually for common problems ...more than

May fifteen, 2013 Philipp rated it really liked it

If y'all're looking for a book to read equally a full-on introduction to R (and advanced R), have this book.
Not only does information technology go through all of the basics of the language, information technology besides recommends some modern packages which make everything easier (plyr for case) - with copious examples and "advanced examples".

I only have two problems with the book:

1) Sometimes, the advanced examples are too clever for their own good. They're meant to showroom the advanced usage of the main focus of the current chapter, but

If you're looking for a book to read equally a full-on introduction to R (and advanced R), take this book.
Non simply does information technology go through all of the basics of the language, information technology also recommends some modern packages which make everything easier (plyr for example) - with copious examples and "avant-garde examples".

I only take two problems with the volume:

i) Sometimes, the advanced examples are besides clever for their own good. They're meant to exhibit the advanced usage of the main focus of the electric current affiliate, but they and so ofttimes do something exceedingly clever that you lot first have to become through the lawmaking step by step with a piece of paper to understand the basic algorithm. Simply then can you go on and sympathize the usage of the data-structure or control-construction in question.
2) It can't make up one's mind whether it'southward an introduction or a reference. The book is written and structured similar an introduction, but it seems to exist on a quest to introduce the majority of standard functions that R has (and they are legion). I'm pretty sure I already forgot about eighty% of the introduced functions.

...more than

Feb 19, 2020 Tassos rated it really liked it

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

You are about to get superpowers by mastering this fine art. As a consequence, the digital world will await quite different. Large blobs of bytes are of a sudden playgrounds. You will load "whatever" to your vectorized universe just like creating a swimming pool with many many lanes. Then you deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff hidden. If you don't feel like swimming today, merely fly, run, crawl, dance… this R matter is and so flexible that you can even throw numbers in the air like a mad You are about to become superpowers by mastering this fine art. Every bit a event, the digital world will look quite different. Big blobs of bytes are suddenly playgrounds. You lot will load "any" to your vectorized universe just similar creating a swimming pool with many many lanes. And then you deploy your mighty sharks (statistics?) to fetch the sexy stuff hidden. If you don't feel like swimming today, simply fly, run, crawl, dance… this R thing is and then flexible that you tin even throw numbers in the air like a mad magician (expect a second… writing a Role for that). ...more than

This was my first R volume. I worked through a good bit of it just still felt that there was a lot missing in my agreement of R. Something about the mode information technology is organized or the way it explains things didn't quite practise it for me. I concluded upwardly getting some other book that explained R a lot amend to me. I nevertheless refer to this book on occasion but I have constitute R in Action to be much more than helpful. This was my outset R book. I worked through a practiced bit of information technology but still felt that there was a lot missing in my agreement of R. Something almost the way it is organized or the manner it explains things didn't quite do it for me. I ended upward getting another volume that explained R a lot improve to me. I still refer to this book on occasion but I have institute R in Action to be much more helpful. ...more than

Like nearly programming books, this one focuses too much on syntax and data structures, and not enough on bug you lot can solve with the linguistic communication. But other than that it's well-written. If you want to do anything having to do with statistics, R is a great language, and this book volition teach yous how to use it.
Similar almost programming books, this one focuses too much on syntax and data structures, and not enough on problems you tin can solve with the linguistic communication. But other than that it'south well-written. If you want to practice annihilation having to do with statistics, R is a great linguistic communication, and this book volition teach you how to use it.
...more

This book IMHO is an first-class starting indicate for learning R. I'chiliad 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 almost the foundation concepts like vectors and matrices. The examples are simple enough to beginning with, while the author leaves some room for cocky-experimentation. The latter chapters depict the advanced capabilities like graphics, debugging and operation tuning.

Needles

This book IMHO is an first-class starting point for learning R. I'thousand finding information technology really useful for beginners like me to learn this new programming language. 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 kickoff with, while the writer leaves some room for self-experimentation. The latter capacity depict the avant-garde capabilities like graphics, debugging and functioning tuning.

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

...more

Mar 21, 2018 Terran 1000 rated information technology it was amazing

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

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

...more

Aug 18, 2017 Ashley rated information technology information technology was amazing

This is i of the best books for learning R. I have read numerous R books and this is my favorite. It is also 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 won't acquire from homo pages and websites A adept book, telling you stuff you won't learn from homo pages and websites ...more

February xiv, 2020 Yuan rated it information technology was astonishing

I learned R in a very piecemeal fashion, via learning packages and using functions inside. Somehow I experience all the packages are isolated islands, I have trouble to "glue" them or understand why they were designed in such ways. Particularly I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, list, array, matrix, data frame, cistron and tables with the bundle functions. These very basic concepts in R (e.g. vector, matrix, array, list, data frame, cistron) can be very tricky. This book will clear 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. Particularly I ran into a lot of WTF errors when manipulating vector, listing, assortment, matrix, data frame, factor and tables with the bundle functions. These very basic concepts in R (eastward.one thousand. vector, matrix, array, list, data frame, factor) can be very tricky. This volume will clear all these confusions for y'all, and provide you a very systematic manner to written report R programming with very uncomplicated examples. A must-read! The offset 7 chapters are greats. I skipped the parallel programming and debugging chapters. ...more

Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will exercise my correct whether you concord or not. I don't.
In brusque, overall, it is a worthy book. It touches most of the aspects when programming in a modern, Large Data capable language R. And not quite at the same time. To elaborate more, permit me state correct away this is non Norman's fault. Its R's. Carry on. Starting from the starting time pages till the last you will be made very well enlightened that R is slow. Well, I read somewhere, an opportunity for publishing a review online is a tribune for a fool. I will practice my right whether yous agree or not. I don't.
In brusk, overall, information technology is a worthy book. It touches nigh of the aspects when programming in a modernistic, Big Data capable language R. And not quite at the same time. To elaborate more, allow me state right away this is non Norman's fault. Its R's. Carry on. Starting from the first pages till the last you will exist made very well aware that R is ho-hum. I was even annoyed by the constant reminders, however I did not deduct the star for that. I must tell you even before buying this book I did some research and found out that Julia (julialang.org) is a fashion improve designed statistics programming language, alas it stuck at the RC 0.3 level for likewise long and patently at that place is no skillful literature to learn information technology (yet, as I know of a new book in cooking). Did I say this book was highly recommend? Yet, it seems that the R buzz has penetrated all the Big Data remote corners (err, I hateful cubicles). R remains valuable, coming out the academia to mere mortals.
So, an R programmer will benefit from knowing C, GPU, sockets and threads, will spend time debugging in an editor or beat out and have on code operation optimizations. Not for a timid soul.
The book is not going to make your a totally ready to get and plan, but it will set up a solid background for the further R exploration. This book needs to exist read among the first. I institute the comprehension is too shallow to mark it five stars.
One communication to the author and publisher, the book needs a second edition, refresh. ...more

October 14, 2016 Matija rated it it was ok

There is much that I didn't like most this book. Programming examples in the outset two thirds of the text are mostly irrelevant and contrived, similar doing quick sort by hand, or calculating probabilities by bones arithmetic operations. R is treated as a general purpose programming language, and nigh no direction is given in how any real world statistical lawmaking would be written in it. Some good insights are provided on how R works, or how information technology'southward different from what programmers coming from other la At that place is much that I didn't similar near this book. Programming examples in the first two thirds of the text are mostly irrelevant and contrived, like doing quick sort by paw, or calculating probabilities past bones arithmetic operations. R is treated as a general purpose programming language, and nearly no management is given in how whatever real world statistical code would be written in it. Some adept insights are provided on how R works, or how information technology'southward different from what programmers coming from other languages might await, but in my opinion not enough to warrant a volume. The text is oftentimes imprecise and mitt-wavy (east.g. something like - I paraphrase: "this approach will generally piece of work well, merely sometimes R will not optimize some parts well, so you accept to be careful"), and I often had the feeling that long pieces of code and subsequent code reviews were provided with no good reason.

Having thus driven this book to the ground, I have to say that professor Matloff seems very knowledgeable in R internals, C and C++ programming and diverse kinds of parallel and high-performance computation - all subjects treated in the final tertiary of the volume. I weren't looking for those in a book called "The Art of R Programming", but they were somewhat interesting. If these subjects interest you, you might find some good information in this book (but beware the beginning ii thirds). If you are looking for a good book to learn R, choice upwardly something else. By no ways should you read this as your first book on R - I wouldn't be learning it now if this was my beginning volume on information technology, as it gives absolutely no justification why it's worth the time.

...more

Feb 06, 2012 Peter rated information technology really liked it

This volume is more of a CS text than a stats text and the writer makes this very clear. Regardless, it is a very good overview of R'due south information types and features. Nifty emphasis is placed on operation and properly vectorizing code witha cursory overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging section is more readable than Chamber'due south "Software for Data Analysis", just non as complete. The author recommends his own volume for better understanding of debugging. In that location is a useful department on integrating This volume is more of a CS text than a stats text and the writer makes this very clear. Regardless, it is a very skilful overview of R's data types and features. Great emphasis is placed on performance and properly vectorizing code witha brief overview of useful vectorized functions. The debugging department is more readable than Bedroom'southward "Software for Data Assay", simply non as consummate. The writer 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 volume very useful. I previously had fairly extensive knowledge of general R syntax and functions, only this text was good for getting a slightly more formal and in depth run through of various R quirks. Definitely ane of the all-time books on R.

...more

This book provides a practiced R overview and I did enjoy it. That said, I volition point out 2 perceived flaws. Kickoff, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics knowledge. I didn't spend the time to try to research but would accept similar an overview in some places. Secondly, perhaps compounding this, case data is available for only a small set of bug. This does make it difficult to follow along. This volume provides a good R overview and I did enjoy it. That said, I will betoken out two perceived flaws. First, some of the examples involve an underlying mathematics and statistics knowledge. I didn't spend the fourth dimension to try to research but would have like an overview in some places. Secondly, perchance compounding this, example data is available for merely a small set up of problems. This does go far hard to follow along. ...more than

This book introduces with the fundamental data structures similar vectors,factors, matrices, dataframes, lists, etc. with a chapter dedicated to each. Book serves the purpose to introduce the programming structure to those new to R.

Later on getting skilful at the basics of R, i can become 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 background on a wide range of topics from data structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the core art of R. 2) Extended examples (functions) are very practical. UNLIKE: one) No exercise at the end of each affiliate. two) Variable & office names aren't that readable. Lots of abbreviation involved. LIKE: i) It takes readers from not-programming groundwork on a wide range of topics from information structures to parallel. Esp, vectorization is the cadre fine art of R. ii) Extended examples (functions) are very practical. UNLIKE: 1) No exercise at the stop of each affiliate. 2) Variable & function names aren't that readable. Lots of abbreviation involved. ...more

Jun 26, 2013 Michael Bail rated it actually liked it

This volume is very serious. It gets yous fashion across the beginners books, and in fact, there is more than material than I demand here, just information technology is what I asked for. It does an exceptional job explaining how to think about vectorized programming, which is ane of the big shifts for typical programmers.

Jul 03, 2020 Goo rated information technology information technology was ok

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

Apr 30, 2012 Matt Yancey rated it it was amazing

This is a bully resource for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this volume come from it'south examples and dandy organization. This is a great resources for anyone that is looking at learning R. The strengths of this book come up from it'southward examples and great system. ...more than

May 06, 2014 Mel rated it it was amazing

This is one of the all-time book to learn R programming language, it'due south consummate and with details. I recommend it to everyone that want to acquire this programming language.

(Lebanese Book Lover)

This is i of the all-time book to learn R programming linguistic communication, it'southward complete and with details. I recommend it to everyone that want to learn this programming language.

(Lebanese Book Lover)

...more

This is a great introduction to base R and besides a practiced reference for some more intermediate-avant-garde topics (vectorization, paralellization, etc.). The writing is very clear and accessible.

Mar 14, 2016 Sile Li rated it really liked it

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

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

Goodreads is hiring!

If you similar books and love to build cool products, we may be looking for you.
Acquire more than »

News & Interviews

Sometimes information technology can be fun only to scan the incoming books in whatsoever given month and ponder the wild variety of homo feel on display....

Welcome back. But a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account.

saenzancel1964.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11746626-the-art-of-r-programming

Share this post