For years datajournalists have been forced to choose between learning R or Python in order to do data analysis with a scripted language. This meant the choice of IDE (integrated development environment – the app for writing and managing scripts and files) was always a defining decision.
R users mostly turned to RStudio to maintain R and run scripts, make plots etc. Python users have had a variety of options – Google Colab, Jupyter, Anaconda etc to manage their scripts and projects.
Now there’s a program built to handle both languages in parallel (but not quite simultaneously!) - it's called Positron.
In this session we will introduce you to the Positron program. We will show you the interface, and how to get started with your usual coding language, before working through some scenarios where being able to move quickly from one language to the other is desirable. (And if you have examples of times when you’ve needed this facility, please bring them to this session)
You will ideally have some experience of R or Python, and some appetite for using the other language, perhaps even on deadline. If you want to follow along in the session, install Positron beforehand from
https://positron.posit.co/