You may think of R as a tool for complex statistical analysis, but it's much more than that. From data visualization to efficient reporting, to improving your w...
R for the Rest of Us Podcast Episode #22: Alex Gold
In this episode, I chat with Alex Gold, who leads solution engineering and support teams at Posit. We talk about his new book ‘DevOps for Data Science’, and explore why DevOps principles are crucial for data scientists, even if you aren't working in hardcore production environments. Alex shares insights on how to think about putting your data science projects into "production"—whether it's a report for colleagues or a full-scale deployment. We discuss practical tips like using {renv} to manage package versions and ensure reproducibility, and Alex gives a live demo on setting it up in an R project. Tune in for key takeaways on making your data science work more robust, shareable, and ready for production.Important resources mentioned:DevOps for Data Science: Buy the book here at 20% off using the discount code AFLY04. Check out the Github repo if interested.Connect with Alex on:  X: @alexkgoldLinkedIn: Alex GoldHis website (alexkgold.space), where he occasionally blogs about data, management, and leadership.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://rfortherestofus.com/newsletter
R for the Rest of Us Podcast Episode #20: Christine Parker
In this episode, I talk with Christine Parker, the Senior GIS Analyst on the Community Broadband Networks team at the Institute for Local Self Reliance. Christine shares how she used R to clean, combine, and summarize data for a dashboard tracking enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a COVID-era initiative to help people access affordable internet. The dashboard gained wide attention. It was shared in advocacy circles, referenced in Congress, and discussed with the White House. Christine highlights R's value for performing repeatable data tasks, particularly with regularly updated datasets, and its advantages compared to manual Excel processes.Important resources mentioned:The ACP dashboard Code that Christine used to create the dashboardConnect with Christine on:  X: @birdwranglerLinkedIn: Christine Parker, PhDSubscribe to our newsletter: https://rfortherestofus.com/newsletter
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R for the Rest of Us Podcast Episode #19: Crystal Lewis
In this episode, I chat with Crystal Lewis about data management and her recently published book titled ‘Data Management in Large-Scale Education Research’. Crystal, a freelance research data management consultant, shares insights on good planning and systematic implementation of practices that are key to effective data management. She discusses the importance of automated data validation, and outlines a structured approach to data cleaning. Additionally, Crystal reflects on her experience writing an open-source book with Bookdown and navigating the publishing process. Important resources mentioned:Crystal’s book Data Management in Large-Scale Education ResearchLearn more about Crystal Lewis by visiting her website and connect with her on X (@Cghlewis), LinkedIn, GitHub, and Fosstodon.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://rfortherestofus.com/newsletter
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R for the Rest of Us Podcast Episode #18: Miles McBain
In this episode, I speak with Miles McBain, a data scientist and R package developer from Brisbane, Australia, about patterns and anti-patterns in data analysis reuse. Miles shares his journey from a generalist software developer to a data science specialist, his passion for R, and the evolution of his coding practices. We delve into the intricacies of code reuse in data analysis, discussing common pitfalls to avoid, the benefits of creating reusable code packages, the process of breaking down large codebases, and how teams can evolve their coding practices to enhance efficiency and maintainability.Important resources mentioned:Patterns and anti-patterns of data analysis reuse blog post by Miles McBainJenny Bryan’s talk ‘Code smells and feels’ presented during useR!2018Connect with Miles McBain:Website: milesmcbain.xyz/GitHub: @milesmcbainMastodon: https://fosstodon.org/@milesmcbainSubscribe to our newsletter: https://rfortherestofus.com/newsletter
You may think of R as a tool for complex statistical analysis, but it's much more than that. From data visualization to efficient reporting, to improving your workflow, R can do it all. On this podcast, I talk with people about how they use R in unique and creative ways.
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