C for R Users

Schedule

• 12:00-12:45 - Gather in Mathematical Sciences Building (MSB) atrium with our lunches (optional, in-person, food not provided)
• 12:45-13:45 - Talk (hybrid - MB0.08/Microsoft Teams)

Abstract
Much of base R is written in C. As R users, we may encounter this code when debugging our own code. As R contributors, we may wish to propose patches to the C code if we discover a bug. In any case, learning a new language can be fun and rewarding!

In this talk, I'll discuss why, as R users/programmers, we may want to learn C, and resources for doing so. I'll show examples of how C is used in the codebase of base R. I'll give an example of how, with only a little C knowledge, it was possible to add a new feature into the language (specifying colours with three-digit hex codes). Finally, I’ll discuss various initiatives from the R Contribution Working Group and show how you, too, can get involved in contributing to base R.