Shiny Showcases from the Shiny Weekly Newsletter

The end of the year is approaching and it’s been a big one for R programming and the Shiny development community. As Shiny adoption continues to grow and R programming secures its place as a top data science language, we wanted to reflect on the impressive content the community has produced. We reviewed the Shiny Showcase dashboard examples from our Shiny Weekly newsletters and condensed them into a short recap.  Below you'll find some of the unique Shiny dashboards we've found or users submitted to the Shiny Weekly newsletter. The list is long, so we’ve done our best to reduce it down to the top 6. If you want to see the rest, let us know in the comments. <ul><li><a href="#satellites">Satellites</a></li><li><a href="#youtube_erica">YouTube Playlist Generator</a></li><li><a href="#cv">CV Builder</a></li><li><a href="#bean">MrBean</a></li><li><a href="#forests">Future Forests</a></li><li><a href="#heat">WHO's HEAT</a></li></ul> <hr /> <h2>Shiny Showcases</h2> There are a lot of Shiny dashboards showcasing new technology or interesting data sets. A comprehensive list would be quite an undertaking. If you like the showcases, consider <a href="http://eepurl.com/hOsazX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscribing to the Shiny Weekly newsletter</a> and get future showcases delivered to your mailbox. But for now, check out some examples from this year: <h3 id="satellites">Shiny Showcase #3: Satellites Table</h3> In this Shiny application, users are greeted with a simple, elegant home page. In seconds we know what we’re looking at and what we’re about to explore.  <a href="https://vfridkin.shinyapps.io/Satellites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17162 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c4630ca449bf549f4a6_Satellites-Table-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="" width="600" height="400" /></a> Also, you have to appreciate the Posit Table Contest easter egg.  As we move through the application we see the creative use of graphics, hover, and guides. The use of table data in Satellites is in a word: satisfying. It’s no wonder that Satellites went on to win the <a href="https://posit.co/blog/winners-of-the-2021-table-contest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Posit Table Contest</a>. Explore the <a href="https://vfridkin.shinyapps.io/Satellites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Satellites live demo</a>. <h3 id="youtube_erica">Shiny Showcase #12: Youtube Playlist Generator</h3> Every now and then we come across a project that combines a unique idea with a touch of artistic design. This Shiny application does this well with the use of thematic background photos, forward/back navigation with page scrolls, and fun data generation.  <a href="https://columbia.shinyapps.io/youtube_erica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17166 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c472fbf278d31f28ee1_Youtube_Erica-Playlist-Generator-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="Youtube_Erica Playlist Generator Shiny Showcase" width="600" height="400" /></a> Try it out for yourself by generating a music video based on your current mood and see who else is watching with you! Explore the <a href="https://columbia.shinyapps.io/youtube_erica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Youtube_Erica live demo</a>. <h3 id="cv">Shiny Showcase #18: CV Builder - A Practical Shiny Application</h3> With the new year around the corner and new positions opening up for R/Shiny developers, maybe it’s time to freshen up your CV and Cover Letter. But with so many keyword variations and application submissions, it’s a full-time job to apply for jobs.  So why not simplify the process with Shiny? <a href="https://javierelio.shinyapps.io/cv_app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17156 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c48b1e58f77d3b102a5_CV-Builder-in-R-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="CV Builder in R Shiny Showcase" width="600" height="400" /></a> This Shiny CV generator builds academic CVs and Cover letters from an excel file. Track and adjust keywords, input new data, and select CV sections to best match your needs. And with a preview on the right panel, you can see what your changes look like before downloading or printing. Explore the <a href="https://javierelio.shinyapps.io/cv_app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CV Builder live demo</a>. <h3 id="bean">Shiny Showcase #28: Setting Up Experiments in Shiny with MrBean</h3> Researchers are using Shiny for more than data visualization. In the case of <a href="https://beanteam.shinyapps.io/MrBean_BETA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MrBean</a>, this Shiny app is used to conveniently and accurately analyze agronomic data, visualize field patterns, and select genotypes. <a href="https://beanteam.shinyapps.io/MrBean_BETA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17160 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c49952f213de6d1a9de_MrBean-Research-Design-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="MrBean Agronomy Research Design Shiny Showcase" width="600" height="400" /></a> <blockquote>Mr.Bean provides a graphical workflow for importing data, identifying outliers, and fitting field data using [Linear Mixed Models (LMM)] with or without spatial correction. (Rodriguez-Alvarez, et al.)</blockquote> But MrBean isn't the only app out there seeding new uses from Shiny. <a href="https://appsilon.com/r-shiny-in-life-sciences-examples/#dashboard-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FielDHub</a> is another example of researchers using Shiny to evaluate and codify experimental design and setup. You can find Shiny improving and de-mystifying research from the Life Sciences to Physics and so much more. <blockquote>Have a Shiny research project you'd like to share? Consider presenting at <a href="https://shinyconf.appsilon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ShinyConf - the largest, global R/Shiny Conference</a>.</blockquote> Explore the <a href="https://beanteam.shinyapps.io/MrBean_BETA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MrBean live demo</a>. <h3 id="forests">Shiny Showcase #52: Making Research Accessible in Future Forests (D4G Project)</h3> We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the <a href="https://futureforests.appsilon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Future Forests project</a> - a dashboard designed to make important information accessible to everyone. Researchers at the Insitute of Dendrology in Poznan are working on important research - modeling European forest species' responses to climate change scenarios. <a href="https://connect.appsilon.com/future-forests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17158 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c4ba7c6956a16980039_Future-Forests-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="Future Forests Shiny Showcase" width="600" height="400" /></a> Future Forests is a thoughtfully designed dashboard that turns complex climate research into an easy-to-consume, user-friendly and interactive experience. Some research is too important to not share with a wider audience and Shiny makes it easier to do just that. There are a lot of neat features, but you can explore them in more detail in a <a href="https://appsilon.com/accessible-research-with-r-shiny/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post from one of the Future Forests developers</a>. Explore the <a href="https://connect.appsilon.com/future-forests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Future Forests live demo</a>. <h3 id="heat">Shiny Showcase #53: Bringing the HEAT from the WHO</h3> The Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) is a dashboard that makes it easier for users to explore and compare inequality across the globe from several WHO Health Inequality Monitor data sets. <a href="https://whoequity.shinyapps.io/heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="size-full wp-image-17164 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c4de196d46b4e1c1787_WHO-HEAT-Shiny-Showcase.webp" alt="WHO HEAT Shiny Showcase" width="600" height="400" /></a> The data and the impact users can generate from an intuitive UI makes this dashboard a standout. The use of Shiny isn't limited to business intelligence and HEAT is a good example of how Shiny can turn data into valuable insight. Explore the <a href="https://whoequity.shinyapps.io/heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HEAT live demo</a>. <h2>What to expect from Shiny in 2023?</h2> It's really difficult to say what exciting Shiny features, packages, and creations we'll see next year. Who would have guessed that Posit would announce <a href="https://appsilon.com/pyshiny-demo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny for Python</a> or a <a href="https://rstudio.github.io/shinyuieditor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny UI Editor</a>? In this year alone, Appsilon has added three <a href="https://shiny.tools/#rhino" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new open-source tools to support Shiny development</a>. And unique innovations like OpenAI's ChatGPT may improve to better assist developers in general. One thing we feel comfortable predicting is that the <strong>Shiny community will continue to grow</strong>. Over the past year, we've seen R/Shiny projects pop up in numerous industries. Over 2500 people from around the globe attended the <a href="https://shinyconf.appsilon.com/shinyconfy-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first-ever ShinyConf</a>. In the past year, nearly 5000 Shiny users signed up for <a href="http://eepurl.com/hOsazX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny Weekly</a>, and <a href="https://templates.appsilon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny templates</a> were downloaded in 85+ countries! <img class="wp-image-17153 aligncenter" src="https://webflow-prod-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/6525256482c9e9a06c7a9d3c%2F65b01c4eccf2ef0d95c269c4_Shiny-Template-Users-Across-the-Globe.webp" alt="Shiny Template Users Global Map showing 85+ countries" width="400" height="400" /> We look forward to the new year and all of the exciting Shiny projects it will bring. And if your resolution is to become a Shiny developer in 2023, there's never been a better time to learn. Check out <a href="https://appsilon.com/how-to-start-a-career-as-an-r-shiny-developer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our guide to start a career as an R Shiny Developer</a>, add <a href="https://posit.co/data-science-hangout/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Posit's Data Science Hangout</a> to your calendar, and of course - join the global Shiny community at <a href="https://shinyconf.appsilon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ShinyConf 2023</a>! Want to explore other Shiny dashboards? Check out examples of: <ul><li><a href="https://appsilon.com/r-shiny-in-life-sciences-examples/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny in Life Sciences</a></li><li><a href="https://appsilon.com/r-shiny-in-agriculture-examples/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny in Agriculture</a></li><li><a href="https://appsilon.com/r-shiny-in-government-examples/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny in Government</a></li></ul> And you can see more of Appsilon's creations in our <a href="https://demo.appsilon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shiny demos gallery</a>.