What’s New in R: April 6, 2026
Welcome to this week’s edition of What’s New in R! This week, we’re featuring a tutorial on bivariate choropleth maps in {tmap}, a new package for adding AI-powered chat to Shiny apps, and a video guide to switching from RStudio to Positron. Let’s dive in!
Bivariate choropleths are go!
David O’Sullivan walks through the new bivariate choropleth mapping capabilities added in {tmap} version 4. Bivariate choropleths blend two semi-transparent color schemes to represent two variables simultaneously on a single map, giving viewers a sense of how those variables relate spatially. O’Sullivan demonstrates the technique using New Zealand census data, covering palette selection with the {cols4all} package and how to interpret the resulting color overlays. He also offers a useful caution: pairing univariate maps alongside the bivariate version can help readers make sense of what they’re seeing.
Where Questions Become Queries: Meet querychat
The {querychat} package, introduced by Veerle Eeftink - van Leemput, lets users explore datasets in Shiny apps using plain-language questions instead of traditional filter controls. Under the hood, it uses an LLM to convert natural language into read-only SQL queries that run against the actual data—keeping the process both reliable and auditable. The package works with multiple LLM providers and supports dataframes, CSVs, and databases. It’s a compelling way to make Shiny dashboards more accessible to non-technical users.
From RStudio to Positron: A Better Data Science IDE (R and Python)
Susan B. offers a guided tour of Positron, Posit’s newer data science IDE built for both R and Python. The video walks through the Positron interface—including the activity bar, editor, console, and sidebars—and draws direct comparisons to familiar RStudio workflows to help users orient themselves quickly. Susan also demonstrates how to open projects, inspect session variables, and enable Positron Assistant for AI-assisted coding with providers like GitHub Copilot. If you’ve been curious about making the switch from RStudio, this is a great place to start.
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Got any ideas for resources I should feature in future issues of What’s New in R? Leave a comment below!
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