Posit::conf 2026
Date: 2026-09-14
The annual flagship conference hosted by Posit (formerly RStudio), dedicated to the R and Python data science communities. It serves as a hub for data scientists, developers, and educators to share advancements in open-source software, reproducibility, and enterprise data workflows.
Core Focus Areas
The Positron IDE: A major highlight of recent conferences has been the development and general availability of Positron, Posit’s next-generation, extensible IDE. It is built on the VS Code foundation but optimized specifically for data science with R and Python.
AI & Large Language Models (LLMs): The conference heavily features how to integrate AI into data workflows responsibly. Key topics include:
• ellmer & chatlas: New R/Python packages for interacting with LLMs.
• Shiny Assistant: AI-powered tools to help users build and debug Shiny applications.
• Agentic AI: Developing autonomous data agents within enterprise environments.
• Enterprise Scaling: Significant focus is placed on Posit Team (Workbench, Connect, and Package Manager) and their integration with major cloud platforms like Snowflake, Databricks, and AWS.
• Open Source Ecosystem: Deep dives into the “Tidyverse” (R) and “Shiny for Python,” as well as Quarto for technical publishing and dashboards.
Conference Structure
• Workshops (Pre-conference): Hands-on, deep-dive training sessions on topics like “Deploying Reproducible Analytics,” “Shiny for Python,” and “Modern Statistical Computing Environments (SCE).”
• Keynotes & Talks: Featuring industry leaders like Hadley Wickham, Joe Cheng, and external experts (e.g., Kieran Healy). Talks range from technical “how-to” sessions to high-level discussions on the “web of social processes” in data visualization.
• Networking & Community: The event is known for a “casual and welcoming” atmosphere, featuring “Birds of a Feather” sessions, a Discord community for virtual attendees, and dedicated lounges (like the Positron Lounge) to meet developers.