[superuser2]

R is a fine tool, but (like Java or C) not the best window for a beginner into the joy that programming can be. The syntax is pretty weird and its semantics don't align that neatly with broadly-useful ideas for reasoning about programs.

We run 3 different intro sequences in Python (for non-majors), Scheme (for most majors), and Haskell (for those who are already strong imperative programmers). They're all great.