Re: (off topic) Re: [R] Notepad

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From: A.J. Rossini (rossini@blindglobe.net)
Date: Thu 01 Mar 2001 - 10:00:36 EST 

Message-ID: <8766hu4au3.fsf@jeeves.blindglobe.net>

>>>>> "EP" == Emmanuel Paradis <paradis@isem.univ-montp2.fr> writes:

    EP> It's true that NotePad is not so bad for someone who starts
    EP> with R, and I used it during some time (and still does). But I
    EP> recently discovered ESS with XEmacs on a Solaris machine, and
    EP> I must admit that it is _really_ different. After all, it
    EP> would be good for a beginner to have the features of ESS
    EP> (syntax highlitning, buffer execution, automatic indentation,
    EP> ...) rather than waiting to be experienced with R. (I seem to
    EP> remember that the R-FAQ recommends ESS.)

For our "intro to computing session" (3-5 hour session) for our
incoming grad students, we force this on them, with the intent being
that they shouldn't get used to any other approach (after all, it DOES
work on windows, and probably could work on Macs (at least OS X), as
well...). We also teach LaTeX via AucTeX at the same time, suggesting
that they really need to become familiar with XEmacs (XEmacs, due to
x-symbol, primarily). Sometimes it sticks, sometimes not, but usually
they learn that the only way to run S-Plus (and eventually R) is
"xemacs -f S" (aka "xemacs -f R").

This has only been the last 2 years, but then again, I've been
teaching that session... :-). Older grad students have tended to be
stuck in their ways, and have generally not transformed as readily
(ditto with some of our faculty), supporting the "hit them hard, hit
them early" approach. Of course, that _was_ a generalization;
specific cases differ from the median.

best,
-tony 

-- 
A.J. Rossini				Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
UW Biostat/Center for AIDS Research	rossini@u.washington.edu	
FHCRC/SCHARP/HIV Vaccine Trials Net	rossini@scharp.org
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