[R] History of R

[andy bush]

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
> 
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> 

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.



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