1.3 Why R and Rstudio?

I have used SPSS and other statistics and analytics software for over twenty years. Then, one day, a former client mentioned that I should have abandoned them and started using R.

Curious and confused, I googled it. Then I downloaded R for free and followed recommendations to use RStudio as my programming environment (IDE), again for free. Next, I searched for some additional resources and thought I should give it a try. It took me only a few weeks to discover huge advantages.

First, I was happy to discover that my learning was fast and pleasant. My background in statistics and programming made it relatively easy for me to adapt. Furthermore, the endless resources I found online were a significant tailwind. Indeed, I owe much of my progress to R communities and the open-source culture. When I searched for advanced learning programs and more structured learning paths, I could choose from various affordable programs online created by leading universities and professional experts.

Secondly, I could do anything I knew and embrace new tricks quickly and completely free. Soon enough, I discovered the vast ecosystem of libraries. I could pick the right ones for any use, from data manipulation to visualization to modeling to reporting. Fortunately, so many brilliant players in the R ecosystem continue contributing as you read those lines, making data science practices more effortless and productive. I must admit that I was lucky to start my R journey when most of the libraries in R that comprise the Tidyverse had been launched already.

Finally, R is a statistical programming language created by scientists for scientists. Therefore, many of its solutions also fit many use cases of applied research in a business context. However, in the business environment, most people are non-software experts. Fortunately, internal data clients can use R scripts and projects as is or with their other analytics and reporting tools in their organization.

The easy and quick adoption, the flexible and productive usage, and the suit to the business environment encouraged me to combine R with my professional practice and business activity.