The open-source mentality is invaluable, as most on this list know. That is what keeps the R evolution progressing at a pace that SAS cannot keep up with.
On a side note (a very side note), I am a zealot for an exercise program called Crossfit. Crossfit has adopted the same open-source mentality as found in the Linux model and has grown into the most valuable fitness and strength training program on the planet. There is an online journal (called crossfit journal) http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CrossFitJournal-Budding_Retrospecti ve.pdf that lists the three components of the linux open-source model: The Linux development model: * Release early and often * Delegate everything you can * Be open to the point of promiscuity Crossfit then followed with its own open-source principles: The CrossFit development model: * Release early and often - Daily! * Delegate everything you can - Meet the experts from the realms of climbing, lifting, swimming, gymnastics, fighting, you name it. * Be open to the point of promiscuity - Read the WOD weblog comments. - Check out the discussion board. - See photos of athletes puking! The point being, it is not the program itself that is amazing, but the people that have made serious contributions to it that make it so. In the same vein, R is only a representation of the many, many valuable talented people who are constantly adding to its functionality because of its open-source nature. That is, R itself is good, useful etc. But, it is the people that add to it and help it grow as a scientific tool that keep it as the lingua franca. > -----Original Message----- > From: r-help-boun...@r-project.org > [mailto:r-help-boun...@r-project.org] On Behalf Of Max Kuhn > Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:17 AM > To: r-help@r-project.org > Subject: Re: [R] R in the NY Times > > More commentary on Slashdot: > > http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/07/2316227 > > ______________________________________________ > R-help@r-project.org 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@r-project.org 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.
