Update program.Rmd (#420)

Correct two small typos.
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Jon Calder 2016-10-03 14:16:27 +02:00 committed by Hadley Wickham
parent 8e84a7890f
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@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ In this part of the book, you'll improve your programming skills. Programming is
knitr::include_graphics("diagrams/data-science-program.png")
```
Programming produces code, and code is a tool of communication. Obviously code tells the computer what you want it to do. But it also communicates meaning to other humans. Thinking about code as a vehicle for communication is important because every project you do is fundamentally collaborative. Even if you're not working with other people, you'll definitely be working with future-you! Writing clear code is important so that others (like future-you) can understand your why you tackled an analysis in the way you did. That means getting better at programming also involves get better at communicating. Over time, you want your code to become not just easier to write, but easier for others to read.
Programming produces code, and code is a tool of communication. Obviously code tells the computer what you want it to do. But it also communicates meaning to other humans. Thinking about code as a vehicle for communication is important because every project you do is fundamentally collaborative. Even if you're not working with other people, you'll definitely be working with future-you! Writing clear code is important so that others (like future-you) can understand your why you tackled an analysis in the way you did. That means getting better at programming also involves getting better at communicating. Over time, you want your code to become not just easier to write, but easier for others to read.
Writing code is similar in many ways to writing prose. One parallel which I find particularly useful is that in both cases rewriting is the key to clarity. The first expression of your ideas is unlikely to be particularly clear, and you may need to rewrite multiple times. After solving a data analysis challenge, it's often worth looking at your code and thinking about whether or not it's obvious what you've done. If you spend a little time rewriting your code while the ideas are fresh, you can save a lot of time later trying to recreate what your code did. But this doesn't mean you should rewrite every function: you need to balance what you need to achieve now with saving time in the long run. (But the more you rewrite your functions the more likely your first attempt will be clear.)
@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ To learn more you need to study R as a programming language, not just an interac
and is a great place to start if R is your first programming language. It
covers similar material to these chapters, but with a different style and
different motivation examples (based in the casino). It's a useful complement
if you find that these four chapter go by too quickly.
if you find that these four chapters go by too quickly.
* [_Advanced R_](https://amzn.com/1466586966) by Hadley Wickham. This dives into the
details of R the programming language. This is a great place to start if you