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+---
+layout: lesson
+root: ../..
+title: Programming with R
+---
+The best way to learn how to program is to do something useful,
+so this introduction to R is built around a common scientific task:
+data analysis.
+
+Our real goal isn't to teach you R,
+but to teach you the basic concepts that all programming depends on.
+We use R in our lessons because:
+
+1.  we have to use *something* for examples;
+2.  it's free, well-documented, and runs almost everywhere;
+3.  it has a large (and growing) user base among scientists; and
+4.  it has a large library of external packages available for performing diverse tasks.
+
+But the two most important things are
+to use whatever language your colleagues are using,
+so that you can share you work with them easily,
+and to use that language *well*.
+
+<div class="toc" markdown="1">
+
+1.  [Analyzing Patient Data](01-starting-with-data.html)
+2.  [Creating Functions](02-func-R.html)
+3.  [Analyzing Multiple Data Sets](03-loops-R.html)
+4.  [Making Choices](04-cond.html)
+5.  [Command-Line Programs](06-cmdline.html)
+
+<a href="../ref/06-R.html">Reference</a>
+</div>