The R-Podcast Episode 5: Basic Package Management

After a brief delay here’s episode 5 of the R-Podcast. In this episode: R 2.15.0 released, listener feedback, and discussion on basic package management. I discuss helpful resources for finding packages, installation procedures, and how to determine what packages are installed in your R system, among other considerations. If you are interested in providing a listener tip about R in audio format, please call the voicemail hotline at +1-269-849-9780 or record a short mp3 or ogg audio clip and send it to theRcast(at)gmail.com . Hope you enjoy the episode!

The following resources are mentioned in this episode:

• R version 2.15.0 release notes: http://cran.r-project.org/src/base/NEWS.html
• “R Fell on Alabama Last Night” presentation by Kent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8d54ThS37Q
• R script used in this episode: https://github.com/thercast/package_admin/blob/master/basic-package-management.R
• R packages included by default: http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-FAQ.html#Which-add_002don-packages-exist-for-R_003f
• CRAN Task Views: http://cran.r-project.org/web/views/
• R-Forge: https://r-forge.r-project.org
• RSeek: http://www.rseek.org
• Crantastic: http://www.crantastic.org
• unknownR R package list: http://unknownr.r-forge.r-project.org/toppkgs.html
• Rtools: http://cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/Rtools
• R Administration Manual-Updating packages: http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-admin.html#Updating-packages
• Upgrading R on Windows and updating packages: http://www.r-statistics.com/2010/04/changing-your-r-upgrading-strategy-and-the-r-code-to-do-it-on-windows/
• UCLA R FAQ on managing packages: http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/r/faq/packages.htm
• Theme music provided by WillRock from the Return All Robots Remix Album at ocremix.org
• The Closing theme is entitled Crysis Crystal and provided by K-wix from the Mega Man 9: Back in Blue album at ocremix.org

Episode 5 Time Stamps

00:00 The R-Podcast #005 Basic Package Management
00:32 Introduction
01:06 R 2.15.0 "Easter Beagle" released
02:01 Listener Feedback
09:02 What is a package?
12:00 Libraries
13:33 What packages do you have?
19:36 Finding packages
33:26 Installing packages
46:12 Using packages
51:08 Updating packages
58:12 Wrapping up: subscribe to the podcast, theRcast(at)gmail.com, + 1-269-849-9780
61:14 End