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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 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) > > ______________________________________________ > R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code. > ______________________________________________ R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.