R Weekly Highlights

JUN 20, 2026

Issue 2026-W25 Highlights

The evolution of Posit's data science agents, robust approaches to unnamed parameters in R functions, and the power of math and visualization collide in an unexpected way. Episode Links  <ul><li>This week's curator: Sam Parmar - <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@parmsam" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon) & <a href="https://twitter.com/parmsam_" target="_blank">@parmsam_</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li><a href="https://opensource.posit.co/blog/2026-06-11_history-of-posit-data-science-agents/" target="_blank">A brief and biased history of Posit data science agents</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cynkra.com/blog/2026-06-12-dots/" target="_blank">Three small dots for more readable code</a></li><li><a href="https://tomaztsql.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/little-useless-useful-r-functions-ulam-prime-spiral/" target="_blank">Little useless-useful R functions – Ulam Prime Spiral</a></li><li>Entire issue available at <a href="https://rweekly.org/2026-W25.html" target="_blank">rweekly.org/2026-W25</a></li></ul>Supplement Resources <ul><li>Ulam Spiral Animation Function <a href="https://github.com/tomaztk/Useless_R_functions/blob/main/functions/ulam_spiral_animation.R" target="_blank">https://github.com/tomaztk/Useless_R_functions/blob/main/functions/ulam_spiral_animation.R</a></li><li>Eric's new Quarto Terminal Theme <a href="https://github.com/rpodcast/quarto-revealjs-terminal" target="_blank">https://github.com/rpodcast/quarto-revealjs-terminal</a></li></ul>Supporting the show <ul><li>Use the contact page at <a href="https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact" target="_blank">https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact</a> to send us your feedback</li><li><a href="https://podcastindex.org/podcast/1062040" target="_blank">R-Weekly Highlights on the Podcastindex.org</a> - You can send a boost into the show directly in the Podcast Index. First, top-up with <a href="https://getalby.com/" target="_blank">Alby</a>, and then head over to the R-Weekly Highlights podcast entry on the index.</li><li>A new way to think about value: <a href="https://value4value.info" target="_blank">https://value4value.info</a></li><li>Get in touch with us on social media<ul><li>Eric Nantz: <a href="https://podcastindex.social/@rpodcast" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rpodcast.bsky.social" target="_blank">@rpodcast.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky) and <a href="https://twitter.com/theRcast" target="_blank">@theRcast</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li>Mike Thomas: <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@mike_thomas" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mike-thomas.bsky.social" target="_blank">@mike-thomas.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky), and <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_ketchbrook" target="_blank">@mike_ketchbrook</a> (X/Twitter) </li></ul></li></ul> Music credits powered by <a href="https://ocremix.org/" target="_blank">OCRemix</a> <ul><li>Suco de Melancia - Final Fantasy 7 - Red Tailed Fox - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01671" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01671</a></li><li>The Quick and the Blue - Mega Man 2 - The Megas - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02090" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02090</a></li></ul>

40 MIN

JUN 12, 2026

Issue 2026-W24 Highlights

A friendly reminder on checking customization when upgrading R, how refactoring may not be so tedious when using the Jarl utility, and honest takes on various code smells you can prevent in your next testing suite.  Episode Links  <ul><li>This week's curator: Batool Almarzouq - <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/batoolmm.bsky.social" target="_blank">@batoolmm.bsky.social</a> (Bluesky) & <a href="https://twitter.com/batool664" target="_blank">@batool664</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li><a href="https://ulrichatz.org/blog/2026-06-04-r-blas-macos/" target="_blank">The Lurking Dangers of the R Version Update</a></li><li><a href="https://blog.r-hub.io/2026/06/02/jarl/" target="_blank">Refactoring with Jarl: a coffee chat</a></li><li><a href="https://jakubsobolewski.com/blog/test-smells-in-r" target="_blank">11 Test Smells That Make Your Tests Lie to You</a></li><li>Entire issue available at <a href="https://rweekly.org/2026-W24.html" target="_blank">rweekly.org/2026-W24</a></li></ul> Supplement Resources <ul><li>{renv} - Project environments in R <a href="https://rstudio.github.io/renv/index.html" target="_blank">https://rstudio.github.io/renv/index.html</a></li><li>rig - The R installation manager <a href="https://github.com/r-lib/rig" target="_blank">https://github.com/r-lib/rig</a></li></ul> Supporting the show <ul><li>Use the contact page at <a href="https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact" target="_blank">https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact</a> to send us your feedback</li><li><a href="https://podcastindex.org/podcast/1062040" target="_blank">R-Weekly Highlights on the Podcastindex.org</a> - You can send a boost into the show directly in the Podcast Index. First, top-up with <a href="https://getalby.com/" target="_blank">Alby</a>, and then head over to the R-Weekly Highlights podcast entry on the index.</li><li>A new way to think about value: <a href="https://value4value.info" target="_blank">https://value4value.info</a></li><li>Get in touch with us on social media<ul><li>Eric Nantz: <a href="https://podcastindex.social/@rpodcast" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rpodcast.bsky.social" target="_blank">@rpodcast.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky) and <a href="https://twitter.com/theRcast" target="_blank">@theRcast</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li>Mike Thomas: <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@mike_thomas" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mike-thomas.bsky.social" target="_blank">@mike-thomas.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky), and <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_ketchbrook" target="_blank">@mike_ketchbrook</a> (X/Twitter) </li></ul></li></ul> Music credits powered by <a href="https://ocremix.org/" target="_blank">OCRemix</a> <ul><li>Vamo alla Django - Final Fantasy 9 - AndyP, Dan Bryant, Fishy - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03579" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03579</a></li><li>Gurgling Desert Pond - Final Fantasy 1 - blackguitar - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02555" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02555</a></li></ul>

40 MIN

JUN 5, 2026

Issue 2026-W23 Highlights

R is capable of many analyes in the world of data science, but can it build a computer? Also a massive usability feature landing in the latest bslib to power up your cards, and optimizing memory usage with the latest rleases of mirai and mori.  Episode Links  <ul><li>This week's curator: Jonathan Kitt - <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jonathankitt.bsky.social" target="_blank">@jonathankitt.bsky.social</a> (Bluesky)</li><li><a href="https://www.landeranalytics.com/post/building-a-computer-in-r" target="_blank">Building a Computer in R</a></li><li><a href="https://opensource.posit.co/blog/2026-05-26_introducing-toolbars/" target="_blank">Introducing Toolbars: Supercharge your Cards and Inputs</a></li><li><a href="https://opensource.posit.co/blog/2026-05-12_production-async-r/" target="_blank">A memory model for production async R: mirai 2.7.0 and mori 0.2.0</a></li><li>Entire issue available at <a href="https://rweekly.org/2026-W23.html" target="_blank">rweekly.org/2026-W23</a></li></ul> Supplement Resources <ul><li>Mike's blog post: Reflections on AI and Security <a href="https://blog.ketchbrookanalytics.com/posts/2026-05-28-ai-security/ai-security.html" target="_blank">https://blog.ketchbrookanalytics.com/posts/2026-05-28-ai-security/ai-security.html</a></li></ul> Supporting the show <ul><li>Use the contact page at <a href="https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact" target="_blank">https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact</a> to send us your feedback</li><li><a href="https://podcastindex.org/podcast/1062040" target="_blank">R-Weekly Highlights on the Podcastindex.org</a> - You can send a boost into the show directly in the Podcast Index. First, top-up with <a href="https://getalby.com/" target="_blank">Alby</a>, and then head over to the R-Weekly Highlights podcast entry on the index.</li><li>A new way to think about value: <a href="https://value4value.info" target="_blank">https://value4value.info</a></li><li>Get in touch with us on social media<ul><li>Eric Nantz: <a href="https://podcastindex.social/@rpodcast" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rpodcast.bsky.social" target="_blank">@rpodcast.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky) and <a href="https://twitter.com/theRcast" target="_blank">@theRcast</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li>Mike Thomas: <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@mike_thomas" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mike-thomas.bsky.social" target="_blank">@mike-thomas.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky), and <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_ketchbrook" target="_blank">@mike_ketchbrook</a> (X/Twitter) </li></ul></li></ul> Music credits powered by <a href="https://ocremix.org/" target="_blank">OCRemix</a> <ul><li>The Unnamed Frontier - Metroid II Return of Samus - Pyro Paper Planes, Viking Guitar - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02892" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02892</a></li><li>Brushwork - Mario Paint - Fratto, Wiesty, The OC Jazz Collective - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04389" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04389</a></li></ul>

39 MIN

MAY 29, 2026

Issue 2026-W22 Highlights

The power of choice is in full effect! How you can leverage GitLab to publish your next Quarto document online, how to bring key R functional paradigms to a Python session, and adding a larger safety net with your unit tests with {mutagen} 0.2.0.  Episode Links  <ul><li>This week's curator: Jon Carroll - <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@jonocarroll" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon) & <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jonocarroll.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy" target="_blank">@jonocarroll.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy</a> (Bluesky) & <a href="https://twitter.com/carroll_jono" target="_blank">@carroll_jono</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li><a href="https://nrennie.rbind.io/blog/deploy-quarto-gitlab/" target="_blank">Deploying Quarto documents with GitLab</a></li><li><a href="https://jcarroll.com.au/2026/05/22/functions-over-idioms-rfuns/" target="_blank">Functions over Idioms - Writing R in Python with rfuns</a></li><li><a href="https://jakubsobolewski.com/blog/muttest-0_2_0/" target="_blank">muttest 0.2.0: More Mutators, Better Reporting, and Parallel Execution</a></li><li>Entire issue available at <a href="https://rweekly.org/2026-W22.html" target="_blank">rweekly.org/2026-W22</a></li></ul>Supplement Resources <ul><li>Data Science at the Command Line <a href="https://datascienceatthecommandline.com/" target="_blank">https://datascienceatthecommandline.com/</a></li><li>DevOps for Data Science <a href="https://do4ds.com/" target="_blank">https://do4ds.com/</a></li><li>{pak} System Requirements <a href="https://pak.r-lib.org/reference/sysreqs.html" target="_blank">https://pak.r-lib.org/reference/sysreqs.html</a></li></ul> Supporting the show <ul><li>Use the contact page at <a href="https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact" target="_blank">https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact</a> to send us your feedback</li><li><a href="https://podcastindex.org/podcast/1062040" target="_blank">R-Weekly Highlights on the Podcastindex.org</a> - You can send a boost into the show directly in the Podcast Index. First, top-up with <a href="https://getalby.com/" target="_blank">Alby</a>, and then head over to the R-Weekly Highlights podcast entry on the index.</li><li>A new way to think about value: <a href="https://value4value.info" target="_blank">https://value4value.info</a></li><li>Get in touch with us on social media<ul><li>Eric Nantz: <a href="https://podcastindex.social/@rpodcast" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rpodcast.bsky.social" target="_blank">@rpodcast.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky) and <a href="https://twitter.com/theRcast" target="_blank">@theRcast</a> (X/Twitter)</li><li>Mike Thomas: <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@mike_thomas" target="_blank">@[email protected]</a> (Mastodon), <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mike-thomas.bsky.social" target="_blank">@mike-thomas.bsky.social</a> (BlueSky), and <a href="https://twitter.com/mike_ketchbrook" target="_blank">@mike_ketchbrook</a> (X/Twitter) </li></ul></li></ul> Music credits powered by <a href="https://ocremix.org/" target="_blank">OCRemix</a>   <ul><li>Wrestling with Double Bass - Street Fighter II - Malcos - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01270" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01270</a></li><li>A Simple Flip can Change Fate - Final Fantasy VI - Level 99 - <a href="https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02692" target="_blank">https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02692</a></li></ul>

44 MIN

MAY 22, 2026

Issue 2026-W21 Highlights

37 MIN

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