Recommended Positron settings for beginners?

[davidkane9]

When I teach RStudio to beginners, I have them execute a function which changes several default settings. Examples:

  settings <- list(
    list("save_workspace", "never"), 
    list("load_workspace", FALSE),
    list("insert_native_pipe_operator", TRUE),
    list("rmd_viewer_type", "pane"),
    list("show_hidden_files", TRUE),
    list("rmd_chunk_output_inline", FALSE),
    list("source_with_echo", TRUE),
    list("packages_pane_enabled", FALSE),
    list("rainbow_parentheses", TRUE),
    list("syntax_color_console", TRUE)
  )

Some of these, like turning off save_workspace and load_workspace, are clearly the best choice for beginners. Others are more debatable.

Positron, by default, already turns off save_workspace and load_workspace. Other of these settings don't apply.

Which Positron default settings would you recommend that I change for beginners?

[juliasilge]

I would say to set Positron to format files on save, as outlined here:

https://posit-dev.github.io/air/editor-vscode.html#format-on-save

I also like to set "quarto.cells.background.color": "useTheme" for how Quarto files appear.

And then I might suggest a few extensions for added pleasantness, like oderwat.indent-rainbow for rainbow indentation and the Shiny extension (not currently bundled).