The Test Set by Posit Spreadsheets, bikes, and the accidental empire of R packages — with Hadley Wickham
Jun 30, 2025
Hadley Wickham, Chief Scientist at Posit and creator of the Tidyverse, shares his journey from a spreadsheet-loving teen to a major figure in data science. He reflects on how messy Excel sheets led to the tidy data revolution and discusses the challenges of developing R packages. The conversation touches on maintaining focus amidst burnout, his fascination with integrating LLMs into data workflows, and how writing books helps tidy ideas. Fun anecdotes, including a custom bike inspired by his Shiny textbook, add a personal touch to his insights.
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Bear Blocks Data Collection
- Hadley Wickham's early exposure to messy Excel sheets inspired the tidy data revolution.
- A bear in the field once caused missing data, illustrating real-world data collection challenges.
Teen Builds Lasting Database
- As a teenager, Hadley developed databases for his dad’s work, including a health genetics database still used 10 years later.
- The system was unreliable, prompting a costly professional replacement, reflecting early impact and limitations.
Coding Freedom Ignites Passion
- Joining RStudio freed Hadley from academic constraints, letting him code all day with no calendar interruptions.
- This freedom ignited a passion for C++ programming, driven by challenge and progress.