R programming can be described as a language that is much different from other “simple to use programming languages” that are used in the data and statistical software programming packages. But R programming requires the commands to be implemented in the command prompt of R. While new users might find this system intimidating but this very aspect is what lies at the heart of the main power sources of this software. A scripting language lies at the core of most other powerful software and so is the case for R.
The main reason behind incorporating scriptable tools in software is because they usually offer greater flexibility, one can automate scripts much more easily and programming and scripting with such a feature is also easier. Other powerful software like Minitab and Excel also have a macro element of programming language present at the backstage for expert users to tinker with.
How to get on with programming from scratch?
While everybody wants to automate repetitive tasks on their computers because to ease up the work flow, but in R one is required to execute sequential commands in order to get things done. Moreover, such automation is needed for computational tasks wherein there is a major programming language component associated with it.
In R one is needed to input commands one after another in order to source the file and to script in the program in R. Primary component of any form of programming is scripting as it simply leads to the automation of the tasks sequentially. For example, in Linux and Mac OS one can input a bunch of Unix (Linux and Mac including) commands together in the form of a shell script, whereas in Windows one can input a bunch of terminal commands in the form of a batch file.
Lexical scope rule:
Under this rule if an unknown variable is referred to in a function then the version of the variable that is in ‘scope’ is used here, enclosing the piece of code. This rule is also applied recursively and is the basic scoping rule that is used within R programming.
To put it in simpler words, Lexical scoping rule which is also called as static scoping rule is used by several programming languages including R programming. It is used to set the range of functionality or scope of a variable so that the unknown variable may only belong or be referenced or called from the defined block of code provided. When the code is compiled the scope or functionality is also determined. Sometimes a variable declared in this way is also called as a ‘private variable or function’.
Despite the fact that this is how Lexical scoping rule works, the opposing approach is called as dynamic scoping; with dynamic scoping variables that can be referenced form outside the block of the code can also be used wherein they are defined outside the block. The variables declared in this manner are known as a public variable.
The main reason behind incorporating scriptable tools in software is because they usually offer greater flexibility, one can automate scripts much more easily and programming and scripting with such a feature is also easier. Other powerful software like Minitab and Excel also have a macro element of programming language present at the backstage for expert users to tinker with.
How to get on with programming from scratch?
While everybody wants to automate repetitive tasks on their computers because to ease up the work flow, but in R one is required to execute sequential commands in order to get things done. Moreover, such automation is needed for computational tasks wherein there is a major programming language component associated with it.
In R one is needed to input commands one after another in order to source the file and to script in the program in R. Primary component of any form of programming is scripting as it simply leads to the automation of the tasks sequentially. For example, in Linux and Mac OS one can input a bunch of Unix (Linux and Mac including) commands together in the form of a shell script, whereas in Windows one can input a bunch of terminal commands in the form of a batch file.
Lexical scope rule:
Under this rule if an unknown variable is referred to in a function then the version of the variable that is in ‘scope’ is used here, enclosing the piece of code. This rule is also applied recursively and is the basic scoping rule that is used within R programming.
To put it in simpler words, Lexical scoping rule which is also called as static scoping rule is used by several programming languages including R programming. It is used to set the range of functionality or scope of a variable so that the unknown variable may only belong or be referenced or called from the defined block of code provided. When the code is compiled the scope or functionality is also determined. Sometimes a variable declared in this way is also called as a ‘private variable or function’.
Despite the fact that this is how Lexical scoping rule works, the opposing approach is called as dynamic scoping; with dynamic scoping variables that can be referenced form outside the block of the code can also be used wherein they are defined outside the block. The variables declared in this manner are known as a public variable.