Switch from Stata to R and Python
- Make sure you know all of them
- If you cannot learn all of them, make sure you are expert in one first
- Predoc employers often emphasize this, and that they believe an expert in one language can quickly pick up other languages on the job
- Once you do 1 and 2, prioritize R and Python
- Why? Aside from all their common advantages, LLMs are much better in R an Python due to the large amount of tidy code online in Python and R vs Stata. If LLMs like ChatGPT and Github copilot
Write functions
- whenever a chunk of code is used twice or more
- LLMs can easily re-write your code into functions
For complex tasks
- conceptualize the structure of your ideal dataset, on which you can run analyses, then work toward that structure
- write a roadmap with a numbered sequence of steps, then code with each numbered section step by step
Describe data by row, colum, and unique level
- Each row identifies a…
- Key columns include …
- Data is unique at … level
Keep a coding notebook
- Benefit: can easily copy & paste with minor changes
- Reflect: if you have to copy & paste a large chunk of code multiple times from your notebook, then maybe there’re packages online that address your needs
Use renv for long-term projects in R
