data-science-lab

Notes for Ella Kaye's guest session at Posit's Data Science Lab on March 31st, 2026.

What even is base R? (feat. some of Ella's contributions)

• base-tidyverse.R
• https://www.r-project.org
• Included and recommended packages
• penguins
  • originally in the palmerpenguins package
  • Preparing the Palmer Penguins Data for the datasets Package in R
  • basepenguins package for converting files that use palmerpenguins to use the datasets in R
• Three-digit hex codes

What is contributing to base R?

• Reviewing, analysing and fixing bugs in the R source code
• Improving documentation
• Contributing translations

Is contributing to base R for me?

• If you have a good knowledge of R programme and a keen interest in contributing, then yes!
• There is a widely diverse community of contributors to base R

Contributing to base R

• Main resource: https://contributor.r-project.org
• Code/bug fixes: bugzilla - https://bugs.r-project.org
• Translations: https://contributor.r-project.org/translations/

To fix a bug need:

• A copy of R's source code to modify
• A way to build R from source to check any changes
• A way to prepare a patch file

We get all of these in the R Dev Container: https://github.com/r-devel/r-dev-env

• There is a mirror at https://github.com/r-devel/r-svn
  • Good for searching the code base and testing patches
• Is is possible to build R from source on a local machine, but takes some set-up
  • Guide for Linux and Windows in the R Development Guide
  • Guide for macOS is under review

Fixing bug in stem()

• Show example in stem.R under R 4.4.3 and 4.5.3

• rig to switch between versions of R: https://github.com/r-lib/rig

• https://bugs.r-project.org/show_bug.cgi?id=8934

• Work in the R Dev Container: https://github.com/r-devel/r-dev-env

• Work through building R tutorial: https://contributor.r-project.org/r-dev-env/tutorials/building_r/

  • Note we're checking out R 4.4.3, so need in step 2:

  svn checkout https://svn.r-project.org/R/tags/R-4-3-3 $TOP_SRCDIR
  

• Creating a patch: https://contributor.r-project.org/r-dev-env/tutorials/patch_update/

R Contribution Working Group (RCWG)

Formed in 2020 to foster a larger, more diverse community of contributors to base R, though supportive infrastructure, opportunities to learn, and opportunities to contribute.

• Supportive infrastructure
  • Website: https://contributor.r-project.org
  • Weblate for translations: https://translate.rx.studio
  • Dev container: https://github.com/r-devel/r-dev-env/
• Opportunities to learn
  • R Development Guide: https://contributor.r-project.org/rdevguide/
  • Tutorials: https://contributor.r-project.org/tutorials/
• Opportunities to contribute
  • Office hours: https://contributor.r-project.org/events/office-hours/
  • Meet-up: https://meetup.com/r-contributors
  • R Dev Days (see below)
• Slack: https://contributor.r-project.org/slack.html

R Dev Days, R Project Sprint

• https://contributor.r-project.org/events/r-dev-days/

Upcoming R Dev Days with open registration, these events are hybrid:

R Dev Day @ Rencontres R, Nantes, France, Fri 19 June
https://pretix.eu/r-contributors/r-dev-day-rr2026 Registration deadline: Fri 29 May

R Dev Day @ CascadiaR, Portland USA, Fri 26 June
https://pretix.eu/r-contributors/r-dev-day-cascadiar-2026 Registration deadline: Fri 12 June

Upcoming contributor events with open application and limited remote participation - travel funding is available to attend the R Project Sprint:

R Dev Day @ useR! 2026, Warsaw, Poland, Fri 10 July
https://user2026.r-project.org/additional/r-dev-day.html Application deadline: Fri 24 April

R Project Sprint 2026, Birmingham, UK, Tue 1 - Thu 3 September
https://contributor.r-project.org/r-project-sprint-2026 Application deadline: Fri 8 May

Keeping informed

• R Contributors site: https://contributor.r-project.org
• Meet-up: https://meetup.com/r-contributors
• Mastodon: https://hachyderm.io/@R_Contributors

Other resources

• C for R users talk: https://ellakaye.github.io/c-for-r-users-2025
• Heather Turner's talk on Lowering Barriers to Contributing to R: https://hturner.github.io/LatinR2025/
• Heather Turner's talk on R-Ladies at R Dev Days: https://hturner.github.io/RLadiesMelbourne2025/
• Blog post about RSMF grant: https://blog.r-project.org/2025/12/17/rsmf-enabling-the-next-generation-of-contributors-to-r/index.html