Introduction To Programming in R (1)

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.title[
# Introduction To Programming in R (1)
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.subtitle[
## R Foundations for Life Scientists
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.author[
### Marcin Kierczak
]

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# Computer program

* flow of data

* from one function to another

* each function does something to the data

# How?

--
> A **programming language** is a formal computer language or constructed language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs to control the behavior of a machine or to express algorithms.  
.small[[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_language)]

# Three things to think about

* what *types* of data can I process?

* how do I *write* what I want?

* when does it *mean* anything?

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# Three components of a language

* what *types* of data can I process &mdash; *type system*

* int &mdash; 1 2 5 9
  * double &mdash; 1.23 -5.74
  * char &mdash; a b test 7 9

* how do I *write* what I want &mdash; *syntax* defined by a language *grammar*

`2 * 1 + 1` vs. `(+ (* 2 1) 1)`

* when does it *mean* anything &mdash; *semantics*

* *Colorful yellow train sleeps on a crazy wave.* &mdash; has no generally accepted meaning
  * *There is $500 on his empty bank acount.* &mdash; internal contradiction

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# Where to start?

*Divide et impera* &mdash; divide and rule.

**Top-down approach:** define the big problem and split it into smaller ones. Assume you have solution to the small problems and continue &mdash; push the responsibility down.
Wishful thinking!

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# Thank you. Questions?

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Graphics from <img src="./assets/freepik.jpg" style="max-height:20px; vertical-align:middle;"> 
Created: 31-Oct-2024 • <a href="https://www.scilifelab.se/">SciLifeLab</a> • <a href="https://nbis.se/">NBIS</a> 

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