OT: any recommendation for scripting language
Its easier to write command line filters using perl/python/gawk than R. Its possible in R but awkward as there is no good way (platform independent,easy to use) of referring to stdin data. Something as simple as gawk 1 which just copies its input to its output is pretty awkward in R. What R really needs is the ability to write: R -f myprog.R < myinput.dat > myoutput.data and have myprog.R refer to myinput.dat via /dev/stdin .
On 12/30/06, Wensui Liu <liuwensui at gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Experts, Thank you so much for your opinions. I probably will go with python. Following your suggestion, I started reading some tutorials but have a quick question. In the sense of statistical computing, is there anything that can be easily done with python but not with SAS/R? Could you please give such an example? Wish you all have a happy new year! wensui On 12/23/06, Wensui Liu <liuwensui at gmail.com> wrote:
Right now, I am using SAS and S+/R. As a new year resolution, I am planning to learn a scripting language. from statisticians' point of view, which scripting language is worth to learn, perl, python, or any other recommendation? (Most likely, I will be learning it in windows.) Since I am not in research, I will prefer one widely used in industry and related to statistical work. if you recommend one, I will really appreciate it if you could point out a good source for learning as well. thank you so much! Have a happy holiday. wensui
-- WenSui Liu A lousy statistician who happens to know a little programming (http://spaces.msn.com/statcompute/blog)
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