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SAS actually combines several useful things in one seamless environment : statistics, plotting, ETL, and data management. For any one of those functions, there
by forkandwait 9y ago
SAS actually combines several useful things in one seamless environment : statistics, plotting, ETL, and data management. For any one of those functions, there is some better system (R, R, perl, sql respectively), but integration can be hard. Also, it is a single purchasing decision with a standard product. Plus, a good SAS programmer can build fairly big processes and avoid brain dead IT bureaucracies. Not that I love it, but it's a niche no other single environment serves.
- dredmorbius 9y agoIt's not so much that integration is hard, but that any given site tends to integrate differently. The problem I've encountered with SAS specifically is that the more powerful tools are hard to gain access to (or proficiency with) given the licensing costs. I have literally been told by SAS regional sales staff that I would be better off pirating a copy of the software to gain access to it. I politely declined.