[R] open source and R

[roger koenker]

>
> On Nov 13, 2005, at 3:24 PM, Robert wrote:
>
>
>> I am curious about one thing: since the reason for using r is r is  
>> a easy-to-learn language and it is good for getting more people  
>> involved. Why most of the packages written in r use other  
>> languages such as FORTRAN's code? I understand some functions have  
>> already been written in other language or it is faster to be  
>> implemented in other language. But my understanding is if the user  
>> does not know that language (for example, FORTRAN), the package is  
>> still a black box to him  because he can not improve the package  
>> and can not be involved in the development.
>> When I searched the packages of R, I saw many packages with  
>> duplicated or similar functions. the main difference among them  
>> are the different functions implemented using other languages,  
>> which are always a black box to the users. So it is very hard for  
>> users to believe the package will run something they need, let  
>> alone getting involved in the development.
>>
>
>
> No, the box is not black, it is utterly transparent.  Of course,  
> what you can recognize and understand
> inside depends on you,.  Just say "no"  to linguistic chauvinism   
> -- even R-ism.
>
>
> url:    www.econ.uiuc.edu/~roger                Roger Koenker
> email   rkoenker at uiuc.edu                       Department of  
> Economics
> vox:    217-333-4558                            University of Illinois
> fax:    217-244-6678                            Champaign, IL 61820
>
>