Before We Start: Details under "Create new Project"

[arieldeardorff]

Under the "Create new project" section of "Before we start" my version of R studio says "Empty Project" rather than "New Project." Also, I wonder if we should point out to folks where they are saving the project and get everyone to save it in the same place, maybe on their desktop?

[libjohn]

Interesting comment @arieldeardorff . My RStudio client on Windows has "New Project". What OS are you on?

Your comment about file location on the file system is intriguing. As an unabashed Windows user (and occassional linux user) I'd prefer my system's default. That is, when I create a new project, the "system" places the new project in the Documents sub-directory. idk if this is b/c Windows or b/c RStudio on Windows.

A recommendation like this could get a little hairy. I honestly don't know where most people prefer to save files on their personal file system. (Pretty sure I don't want to know - which is why, when I teach, I just highlight that I'm using my system default rather than tell people where to put the file.)

So, that's my two cents. I'm only too willing to share. Happy to withdrawal this comment if it's a big issue.

Ultimately I am agnostic as to where, on the file system, somebody chooses to save their project. At the same time, I am very much in favor of teaching people about the value of using the RStudio *project feature (*.Rproj) as a step towards reproducibility and RStudio convenience.

i.e. a file system folder/directory is an RStudio project is a git repository. (or at least, "should be." ;-)

[arieldeardorff]

I am on a Mac so that could be the difference.

As for saving the file, maybe it is less important where we save it but I think it is good to point out the file path so folks know how to find it later on.

[libjohn]

... good to point out the file path so folks know how to find it later on.

Totally agree. Thnx for the comments.