Over the past 5 years, I've mainly relied on using data visualization tools (i.e. Tableau) to satisfy my data analytics needs. In recent months, I've focused on learning more about computer programming and am exploring various languages, such as Python and R. I believe that both languages are useful and can be effective in their own ways.
In this article I share a few compelling reasons why I think people should learn R.
1. Free to use
R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. You can download it here.
2. Powerful
R can handle complex, large data sets. It can be used for resource-intensive simulations and high-performance computer clusters.
3. Engaged community
R has an engaged community comprised of passionate users that regularly interact on discussion forums and attend conferences. Here's a link to an R Studio community.
4. Libraries
R provides access to thousands of free libraries available for unlimited use. Here's a link to a list of useful R packages.
5. Easy to learn
The language is organized in a way that is easier to grasp than most languages and it is intuitive. There are several resources and courses available both online and in-person that can help you learn R. Here is a link to a course that I found useful for becoming proficient in R - Business Science University
Are you learning R? Comment below with your favorite resources.