===========================================
 RKernel: Yet another R kernel for Jupyter
===========================================

.. post:: 2023-02-04

.. previewimage:: images/screenshot_2023-04-05_15-03-26.png

The package 'RKernel' allows you to run *R* in `Jupyter`_ notebooks etc. I have
been working on the package on and off since summer 2021. I started because I
was dissatisfied with the default rich output that the already existing
`IRkernel`_ produces. Also, the help system seemed to be broken with version
<= 1.3 of 'IRkernel' when used with a more recent version of *R* (>=4.3?). [#f1]_ 

I am now using 'RKernel' in all of my own research that uses *R* and I have
been adding all kinds of features that I missed or that I thought might be
useful or cool (usually after work or on weekends). [#f2]_ As a consequence,
this new *R* kernel supports:

- Updating plots using ``lines()`` etc. even across notebook cells
- A wide range of widgets, based on `ipywidgets`_.
- Fully werking  HTML help pages with working links etc.
- Interactive debugging
- Improved graphics within output created by ``example(...)``

Currently, the package is available from `GitHub`_
I will add more information as I find the time for it.

.. figure:: gifs/Interactive-distributions-demo.gif

   A demonstration of interactive graphics using SVG widgets.

.. figure:: gifs/Display-demo.gif

   A demonstration of rich display

.. [#f1] This seems to have been fixed with version 1.3.2, but the help pages
         are still not real HTML and do not support links. Furthermore
         ``help.start()`` does not really work. (It does with RKernel, though :)
.. [#f2] Working on this package almost evolved into some kind of therapy for my
         frustration from various aspects of academic life.

.. _Jupyter: http://jupyter.org/
.. _IRkernel: https://cran.r-project.org/package=IRkernel
.. _ipywidgets: https://ipywidgets.readthedocs.io/
.. _GitHub: https://github.com/melff/RKernel