I agree that the documentation is a primary source, made now more
accessible with the availability of the RSiteSearch package that allows
more structures searches of the help pages in contributed packages than
previously available. On the other hand, it can sometimes be difficult
to get the attention and support of someone who can make necessary
improvements to the help pages.
Moreover, the R Wiki should be the primary place for comparing
similar capabilities in different packages. For example, a function
named "gam" appears in two different packages, with similar
functionality but subtle incompatibilities. The R Wiki provides a forum
for an open-ended debate about which is best for which purpose. The
Wiki model has proven its worth by allowing anyone to write anything
they feel moved to write (in the language of their choice). If
something is disputed, there are referees to lock particular Wiki pages,
after which point the dispute can continue but without burdening the
casual reader with the details. The success of Wikipedia shows a
context in which anarchy is almost uniformly superior to prior
censorship. The current "task views" provide a very limited overview of
contributed capabilities but the way those are currently managed make
them entirely too static and unsuited to this kind of thing. I plan
eventually to start contributing to the R Wiki, making comparisons of
similar capabilities in different packages and inviting the package
maintainers to correct or expand on anything I write. However, I have
other tasks I need to complete before I can start working on that.
Best Wishes,
Spencer Graves
Peter Flom wrote:
I certainly don't have anything against the WIKI, but I think that the
documentation
is where the action is, especially for newbies. It's the natural first step
when you want to learn about a function or when you get an error message you
don't understand.
Peter
Peter L. Flom, PhD
Statistical Consultant
www DOT peterflomconsulting DOT com
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