S Programming

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 400 pages
• Published by: Springer January 9, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0387989668
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0387989662
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 1.1 pounds

Reader Reviews
For those seeking an introduction to programming in S, or seeking information on how to use S for statistical applications, this is NOT a good choice as a "first purchase", nor is it intended to be. Instead, choose these authors' other textbook, Modern Applied Statistics with S-Plus. This book isn't primarily about using S, using S-PLUS (a commercial version of S), nor using R (an Open Source version of S), but rather, it's about showing how to write programming extensions to the base S functions. In fact, for those seeking such guidance, this is the book's great virtue. It's written by two world-class authorities on the subject of S programming, persons who are generous in their efforts to help others and who can be contacted through the Internet. However, this particular text assumes the reader is already committed to using S, and hence, contains little 'motivational' material. Yet for the audience to whom it's addressed, it's essential, or at least highly recommended, reading. The latest commercial version of S (S-PLUS 2000 from Mathsoft, Inc.) has a graphical user interface (GUI). A chapter is included in the latter portion of the book on how to program such interfaces. Also, a chapter is devoted to extending S with compiled code written in C, Fortran, or C++. Since S is an interpreted language, using compiled code can increase the speed of newly created functions. This is highly technical, however, and not for the neophyte. Potential software developers of vertical-market applications involving S-PLUS, among others, will benefit from purchasing "S Programming" by Venables & Ripley. Comment | | (Report this)