The evolution of the S language can be traced through four seminal books authored by John Chambers and his collaborators. The foundational reference for R is "The New S Language: A Programming Environment for Data Analysis and Graphics" by Richard A. Becker, John M. Chambers, and Allan R. Wilks. This book serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles and functionalities that underpin the S language, forming the basis for subsequent developments.
In 1991, the release of S brought forth new features, and these are meticulously covered in "Statistical Models in S," edited by John M. Chambers and Trevor J. Hastie. This text provides insights into the advancements introduced in the 1991 release, offering practitioners a deeper understanding of the evolving capabilities of the language.
Formal methods and classes within the methods package in R are built upon the concepts described in "Programming with Data" by John M. Chambers. This book serves as a valuable resource for those delving into the intricacies of programming with data, providing a solid foundation for the development and application of statistical methods within R.
