Blog

Writing Snowflake queries to CSV using snowSQL

how-to

databases

cli

A note on exporting Snowflake SQL query results to CSV files

Oct 3, 2024

4 min

Initialising git repositories with sensible .gitignore files

git

workflow

how-to

How I use git aliases and gitignore.io to always add a .gitignore file to my repositories before commiting other files or folders

Aug 3, 2024

3 min

Creating a Pinterest-style image gallery with Quarto

how-to

images

quarto

How I used masonry.js via Quarto extensions to create a cascading grid layout for a set of images without any Javascript skills.

Jul 23, 2024

4 min

Managing and reusing research graphics with git

markdown

images

git

how-to

workflows

quarto

Notes on using git and git submodules to version control and share images across across multiple research papers and presentations

Jun 20, 2024

6 min

Design Principles for Plot Helper Functions

ggplot2

code style

design

An opinionated take on writing better ggplot2 helper functions with calendar plots as a design case study

May 25, 2024

14 min

Documenting data produced using ChatGPT in R Packages

generative-ai

r-packages

Some thoughts on including sample data generated by ChatGPT as data in R packages

Apr 13, 2024

3 min

Untangling templates, formats and extensions in Quarto

quarto

explainer

how-to

An attempt to clarify the different ways to reuse templates and extend the features of Quarto, along with a cheatsheet of Quarto CLI commands to add, update and remove extensions, use starter templates, and create projects.

Mar 11, 2024

9 min

Automating basic image edits with ImageMagick

imagemagick

cli

how-to

A cheatsheet of ImageMagick commands I use to edit vector drawings from my iPad for inclusion in (Quarto markdown) documents, presentations and webpages

Feb 4, 2024

5 min

Programmatically embed (and layout) a whole folder of images in a Quarto document

quarto

how-to

markdown

listings

How to use ‘asis’ output from R code chunks to generate inline image links for an entire directory of images, AND arrange them using Quarto’s custom figure layout syntax

Jan 29, 2024

3 min

Reflections on Community Building via Hacky Hours

NUMBATs

hacky hour

Hacky hours, coding clubs, communities of practice… whatever you call them, here are some reflections on organising and growing an internal community around research software and open science.

Jan 13, 2024

6 min