R vs Python: Which is right for you?
Both R and Python are very popular programme languages for data science and both have their pros and cons without there being a clear winner. The R analysis ecosystem is superior and provides a much larger number of libraries specialized in different types of statistical analysis and its ggplot library is still the gold standard when it comes to data visualization. Python is easier to integrate with other software and is more versatile. Python is the better choice when it comes to web applications, software development, task automation and integration of analysis with web applications and production databases.
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Programming experience: Python and R are both easy to learn with many online resources available to continue to learn independently. If you already know another object-oriented programming language Python might feel more natural to you.
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Your environment: Which programming language do your peers, fellow students or teachers use? What is more common in your field of study? Do future employers or job sectors that you might target after graduation have a preference?
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Your goals: Some models and visualizations might be better supported in R than Python. Also consider your long-term career goals. If you aspire to become a software developer, you might prefer Python.
For more information on the different programming languages and the coding workshops we run see the links below:
The R Workshop Series
The Python Workshop Series