Efficient R Programming

Chapter 4. Efficient Workflow

Efficient programming is an important skill for generating the correct result, on time. Yet coding is only one part of a wider skillset needed for successful outcomes for projects involving R programming. Unless your project is to write generic R code (i.e., unless you are on the R Core Team), the project will probably transcend the confines of the R world; it must engage with a whole range of other factors. In this context, we define workflow as the sum of practices, habits, and systems that enable productivity.¹ To some extent, workflow is about personal preferences. Everyone’s mind works differently so the most appropriate workflow varies from person to person and from one project to the next. Project management practices will also vary depending on the scale and type of the project. It’s a big topic, but it can usefully be condensed into five top tips.

Prerequisites

This chapter focuses on workflow. For project planning and management, we’ll use the DiagrammeR package. For project reporting, we’ll focus on R Markdown and knitr, which are bundled with RStudio (but can be installed independently if needed). We’ll suggest other packages that are worth investigating, but are not required for this particular chapter.

library("DiagrammeR")

Top Five Tips for Efficient Workflow

1. Start without writing code but with a clear mind and perhaps a pen and paper. This will ensure that you keep your objectives at the forefront of your mind without getting ...