Lecture slides from UBC STAT545 2014. Not a stand-alone document. http://stat545-ubc.github.io

1. STAT 545A Class meeting 002
Deep thoughts re: data analytic work +
Getting started with R and RStudio
web companion: STAT 545 web home > Syllabus > cm002
Monday, September 8, 2014

2. Dr. Jennifer (Jenny) Bryan
Department of Statistics and Michael Smith Laboratories
University of British Columbia
jenny@stat.ubc.ca
https://github.com/jennybc
http://www.stat.ubc.ca/~jenny/
@JennyBryan ← personal, professional Twitter
https://github.com/STAT545-UBC
http://stat545-ubc.github.io
@STAT545 ← Twitter as lead instructor of this course

3. Deep
Thoughts
about data
analytic work

4. get better at typing

5. tough love:
typos matter
case matters
th_is is different from th-is
spaces in filenames are EVIL
want computer to do tedious work for you?
then you must give precise instructions

6. A place for everything,
everything in its place.
Benjamin Franklin

9. source is real
“The source code is real. The objects
are realizations of the source code. Source
for EVERY user modified object is placed in a
particular directory or directories, for later
editing and retrieval.”
-- from the Emacs Speaks Statistics (ESS) manual

11. write code for humans,
write data for computers
Vince Buffalo

12. data written for humans ...
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reports/PRECIPOUT.2011

13. ... is hard to explain to a computer
http://nbviewer.ipython.org/github/abostroem/2014-09-10-LBL/blob/master/pandas/load_precip_data.ipynb
h/t @jiffyclub

14. code written (only) for computers ...
... creates misery for humans

15. Names matter

16. NO
myabstract.docx
Joe’s Filenames Use Spaces and Punctuation.xlsx
figure 1.png
fig 2.png
JW7d^(2sl@deletethisandyourcareerisoverWx2*.txt
YES
2014-06-08_abstract-for-sla.docx
joes-filenames-are-getting-better.xlsx
fig01_scatterplot-talk-length-vs-interest.png
fig02_histogram-talk-attendance.png
1986-01-28_raw-data-from-challenger-o-rings.txt

17. minimize the creation of data excerpts and copies ...
... they will just confuse you later

18. reshape your data

19. what is your working directory?
where is the file or executable you need?

20. Oops, I see a small mistake right there.
Do you mind going back to fix that?

21. If the thought of re-running your
analysis makes you ill ...
... you’re not doing it right

22. Deep
Thoughts
about data
analytic work

23. switch to live coding ...
see web companion for indicative content:
STAT 545 web home > Syllabus > cm002
Students with R/RStudio experience were encouraged to
contribute something to the “Learn R” world.
Suggestion: use, review, extend swirl (see next slide).

24. http://swirlstats.com

25. you do know that R ≠ RStudio, right?
we use RStudio because it makes us happier in our
work, but notice that nothing we produce --
no code, no figures, nothing -- requires
RStudio to be created, appreciated or
reused
this is important
this is intentional

26. photos
Deep Thoughts, tree, mist, sun
Loco Steve, Goldie Dawn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36989019@N08/5546134597/
Messy beer cans
http://www.schiesshouse.com/dontdothis.htm
Hanging beer cans
http://www.beastpieces.com/2009/07/its-superior/
Messy computer desktop
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanbaptisteparis/724619122/in/photolist-272S29-auRiXZ
Trifle
http://assets.cougar.nineentertainmentco.com.au/Assets/GourmetTraveller/2013/05/09/8837/1209gtpmtrifle-628.jpg
Trifle recipe
http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/recipes/print-recipe/?id=8837
Winner of 2004 Obfuscated C code competition
http://m.eet.com/media/1076421/1106esdGanssle01.gif
Cheers “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”
http://cheersboston.blogspot.ca
PC vs Mac
http://www.frumsatire.net/2009/03/14/mac-vs-pc/
You can’t get there from here
http://cstacalicious.ning.com/photo/liss-platt-still-from-you-can-t-get-there-from-here-2005-8?context=latest
Hand-crafted basket woven chair
http://www.visitscotland.com/cms-images/2x1/regions/orkney/hand-crafted-furniture