The conventional view used to be that S is the language and that R and S-PLUS are implementations of it. R is usually described as 'a programming environment for data analysis and graphics' (as was S-PLUS before it). However as the language that R implements diverges inexorably from the classical definition of S it is now probably more accurate to describe the language itself as R as well, now a dialect of S, if you will.
The only thing most would agree upon, though is that neither R nor S-PLUS should *ever* be described as "stats packages". Such a description is definitely to be avoided. In fact calling R a 'package' at all would be both confusing and misleading (not to mention demeaning!). Bill Venables. -----Original Message----- From: r-help-boun...@r-project.org [mailto:r-help-boun...@r-project.org] On Behalf Of Erin Hodgess Sent: Sunday, 21 November 2010 11:56 AM To: R help Subject: [R] a philosophy R question Dear R People: Do we say that R is a programming language or a programming environment, please? Which is correct, please? Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Erin -- Erin Hodgess Associate Professor Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences University of Houston - Downtown mailto: erinm.hodg...@gmail.com ______________________________________________ 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.
