Make the most out of R Shiny.

Discover examples, best practices, and expert insights through our free R Shiny guidebook.

Get started and connect your data with decisions.

Troubleshoot common R Shiny challenges.

Get on top of your goals with automated reporting.

Master advanced R Shiny features.

Some of the
amazing
organisations
we work with.

Don’t let common R Shiny challenges
hold you back!

Investing hours into a project only to get stuck at some point can be disheartening.

If you are looking for powerful ways to work with your data and build bespoke dashboards that equal the quality of your analytics, improving your R Shiny skills has never been easier.

We have distilled our experience into a guide to help you on your journey.

Don’t let a lack of guidance hinder your progress. Grab our free guide to what R Shiny can do for you and how you can propel your data story to success.

See what's in the Guide

Dashboard design mastery

Unlock the secrets to planning and crafting visually engaging, user-centric R Shiny dashboards.

Efficient hosting solutions

Master different types of R Shiny deployment including deployment on AWS, Azure, and Docker.

Performance optimisation

Techniques to boost the performance and speed of your R Shiny apps.

Advanced R Shiny features

Delve into high-end functionalities that will set your R Shiny project apart.

Open-source widgets

Access Epi-interactive's free GitHub widgets to enhance your R Shiny apps' functionality.

Inspiring examples

Explore diverse, impactful R Shiny applications across various sectors.

About Epi-interactive

Our interdisciplinary team stands at the forefront of R Shiny app development and supports many organisations to make their data and research more accessible, and link complex analytics with practical decisions. Built upon our passion to improve human, animal and environmental health, we have helped transform complex data into actionable insights for governments, private enterprises, universities, and global organisations.

We don’t just build apps; we craft interactive insights that empower decisions and scale analytics into high performing decision-support tools – fully customised to our client’s needs. If you’re aiming for R Shiny mastery, let our experience be your guide.

As Posit Full Service Certified Partner we further offer implementation, support and maintenance services for Posit products.

R Shiny FAQs

Dive into common R Shiny queries below.

What are the key benefits of using R Shiny for dashboard development?

R Shiny is a powerful web framework specifically made for bespoke dashboard development. Compared to more general web programming languages it offers a rapid transition from analytical code to interactive web interfaces, using R as backbone. Unlike out-of-the-box dashboarding tools like PowerBI or Tableau it can be easily extended with common web technologies and integrated with more advanced workflows, e.g. data pipelines, DevOps practices or cloud computing. R Shiny is open source and promotes reproducibility, reusability and interactivity, along with avoiding vendor lock-in.

Can R Shiny be effectively used for large, enterprise-grade applications?

Yes, R Shiny can handle substantial user loads, data sets and processing when correctly configured and deployed, making it suitable for enterprise applications. It is suitable both for internal and public facing enterprise applications. It can be set up to cater for user authentication and permission management and to support enterprise-level security standards.

What are some best practices for hosting and deploying R Shiny apps?

There are different options depending on your requirements. Most people start with Shinyapps.io, the cloud publishing platform provided by Posit. More advanced features are available with Posit Connect, Shiny Server or ShinyProxy, which can also address data sovereignty requirements, e.g. when data needs to reside within a country. The guide also covers best practices such as using renv and Docker for environment consistency, cloud platforms like AWS and Azure for scalability, and options for regular app monitoring.

How can I optimise the performance of my R Shiny application?

Speeding up your app can be achieved on multiple levels. Key strategies include profiling your app to identify bottlenecks in the code, streamlining data operations, and using caching to reduce load times. Performance improvements can also be achieved by optimising your hosting environment, e.g. through load-balancing your apps or scaling your server infrastructure.

What advanced features does R Shiny offer for app development?

R Shiny allows the integration of native HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for enhanced customisation and interactivity. The user interface and interactivity can be set up and controlled on a very granular level, allowing bespoke and user centric interfaces targeting specific audiences to support decision making and alignment with strategic objectives. Code modularisation strategies for R Shiny allow it to handle the most complex apps.

Can I integrate machine learning models into my R Shiny applications?

Yes, R Shiny can serve as a bridge between complex machine learning models and users, allowing for real-time insights and interactive decision-making. It is also possible to integrate models written in other languages, e.g. Python, into R Shiny.

Are there any open-source resources available for R Shiny development?

Yes, thanks to the vibrant community supporting R Shiny! Posit, the company that invented R Shiny, has a ton of resources available on shiny.posit.co to get started, there is also “Mastering Shiny” by Hadley Wickham and “Engineering Production-Grade Shiny Apps” freely available online for the more advanced user. Epi-interactive’s GitHub repository offers a range of open-source widgets and tools specifically made available for enhancing R Shiny apps.

What kind of real-world applications can be developed using R Shiny?

The guide showcases examples like the WHO GLASS tool and the Cancer Care Data Explorer, demonstrating R Shiny’s versatility across health, research, and data analysis sectors

How does R Shiny facilitate effective data visualisation and storytelling?

Through interactive elements, customised visualisations, R packages for common visualisations such as Plotly or Leaflet, and integration with tools like Quarto and Markdown, R Shiny enables dynamic and impactful data narratives.

Is R Shiny suitable for beginners in data science and dashboard creation?

Yes, R Shiny is accessible to beginners with some R knowledge, with resources available for learning basic to advanced concepts in interactive web application development.

What are the key considerations for designing R Shiny dashboards?

The guide emphasises understanding user needs, selecting appropriate visualisations, maintaining visual consistency, and optimising for mobile responsiveness.

Can R Shiny integrate with other web technologies for enhanced functionality?

Yes, R Shiny can be extended with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create custom user interfaces and interactive features.

How can I ensure my R Shiny app performs well with large datasets?

The guide suggests server-side data processing, using efficient data formats, and reactive programming techniques to handle large datasets effectively.

What future trends in data analytics does the eBook anticipate for R Shiny?

The guide anticipates a growing integration of R Shiny with AI and Machine Learning, an increase in customisation options, and its evolving role in data-driven storytelling.

Master R Shiny with our Ultimate Guide.

Unleash R Shiny’s full potential to make sure your dashboards and tools keep up with your data.