Issue 2026-W40 Highlights

After a massive backlog issue sprint, the foundational {knitr} gains terrific updates to supercharge SQL code chunks. The R Project moves to an open source platform for asynchronous communication, and a key technique for bringing the user's perspective on error messages when you test your R package. 

Episode Links 

• This week's curator: Batool Almarzouq - @batoolmm.bsky.social (Bluesky) & @batool664 (X/Twitter)
• The knitr SQL Engine Grows Up
• Zulip Chat for the R Project
• Snapshotting error messages
• Entire issue available at rweekly.org/2026-W40

Supplement Resources

• A Four-Day {knitr} Issue/PR Backlog Sprint https://yihui.org/en/2026/09/knitr-backlog
• Zulip R-Project signup https://r-project.zulipchat.com
• A Practical Introduction To Reproducible R with Nix & {rix} https://b-rodrigues.github.io/r_pharma_26/#/title-slide

Supporting the show

• Use the contact page at https://serve.podhome.fm/custompage/r-weekly-highlights/contact to send us your feedback
• R-Weekly Highlights on the Podcastindex.org - You can send a boost into the show directly in the Podcast Index. First, top-up with Alby, and then head over to the R-Weekly Highlights podcast entry on the index.
• A new way to think about value: https://value4value.info
• Get in touch with us on social media
  • Eric Nantz: @rpodcast@podcastindex.social (Mastodon), @rpodcast.bsky.social (BlueSky) and @theRcast (X/Twitter)
  • Mike Thomas: @mike_thomas@fosstodon.org (Mastodon), @mike-thomas.bsky.social (BlueSky), and @mike_ketchbrook (X/Twitter) 

Music credits powered by OCRemix

• Brinstar Bonsai Garden - Super Metroid - Red Tailed Fox - https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01473
• Dark World Jazz - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Gux - https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00156