From Rpubs to GitHub: Lessons Learned in Hosting an RMarkdown File
As a data professional, I am always looking for ways to showcase my technical skills to potential clients and employers. This led me to finally create a portfolio website. When I added a projects section, I revisited an RMarkdown file that I had previously knitted to Rpubs for hosting. However, upon looking over the file, I discovered some grammatical errors. While seemingly minor, such errors can adversely affect your professional image and reduce your perceived level of expertise.
This experience reinforced the idea that professional growth is an ongoing process.
After proofreading, editing, and running the file through multiple spell checks (including taking advantage of the automatic spell check feature that is included in RStudio version 1.3 and later which checks for grammatical errors as you type) I was ready to re-knit.
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This taught me the importance of using the latest versions of open-source tools and developing a meticulous approach to reviewing and proofreading my work.
Despite my efforts, I was unable to re-knit the file because some of the packages used in it were outdated. However, this obstacle led me to explore GitHub, a platform I had previously only used to store code. During my search for assistance with hosting an RMarkdown file on GitHub, I found an informative blog post by Mark Bounthavong titled "Hosting an R Markdown HTML file on a GitHub page". Following the guidance provided in the article, I successfully edited and hosted my RMarkdown file on GitHub, eliminating the need to host it on Rpubs.
Feel free to view Mark’s article here: https://mbounthavong.com/blog/2022/7/30/hosting-a-r-markdown-html-file-on-a-github-page
After rectifying my error, gaining more knowledge about GitHub, and taking steps to prevent future mistakes, I now ensure that I have the most recent version of open-source software on my device and thoroughly review my work through multiple channels. In summary, updating and re-hosting an RMarkdown file can be challenging, but it also presents an opportunity for personal growth and development. I am grateful for R's open-source community, the updates they provide, and the lessons I learned through editing and hosting my file on GitHub.
If you are interested in learning more about me and viewing some of my projects, please visit my portfolio website at www.mikaylaedwards.com