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https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK

ruODK: An R Client for the ODK Central API
https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK

odata odata-client odk odk-central opendatakit r-package rstats

Last synced: 8 days ago
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ruODK: An R Client for the ODK Central API

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---
output: github_document
---

```{r setup, include = FALSE}
knitr::opts_chunk$set(
collapse = TRUE,
comment = "#>",
fig.path = "man/figures/",
out.width = "100%"
)
```
# `ruODK`: An R Client for the ODK Central API Especially in these trying times, it is important to ask: ruODK?

[![DOI](https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.3953158.svg)](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3953158)
[![Project Status: Active – The project has reached a stable, usable state and is being actively developed.](https://www.repostatus.org/badges/latest/active.svg)](https://www.repostatus.org/#active)
[![Last-changedate](https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/ropensci/ruODK.svg)](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/commits/main)
[![GitHub issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/ropensci/ruodk.svg?style=popout)](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/issues/)
[![Tests](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/actions/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml)
[![Test coverage](https://codecov.io/gh/ropensci/ruODK/branch/main/graph/badge.svg)](https://app.codecov.io/gh/ropensci/ruODK?branch=main)
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[![CodeFactor](https://www.codefactor.io/repository/github/ropensci/ruodk/badge)](https://www.codefactor.io/repository/github/ropensci/ruodk)
[![Hosted JupyterLab with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=lab)
[![Hosted RStudio with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=rstudio)

Especially in these trying times, it is important to ask "r u ODK?".

`ruODK` is an R client to access and parse data from ODK Central.

[OpenDataKit](https://getodk.org/) (ODK) is
[free-and open-source software](https://getodk.org/software/)
that helps millions of people collect data quickly, accurately, offline,
and at scale. The software is in active use in every country in the world and is
supported by a large and helpful community.

`ruODK` is a community contribution to the ODK ecosystem, but not directly
affiliated with ODK.

`ruODK` assumes some familiarity of its users with the ODK ecosystem and workflows.
For a detailed overview, read the extensive [ODK documentation](https://docs.getodk.org/)
and visit the friendly [ODK forum](https://forum.getodk.org/).

[ODK Central](https://docs.getodk.org/central-intro/) is a cloud-based
data clearinghouse for digitally captured data, replacing the older software
[ODK Aggregate](https://docs.getodk.org/aggregate-intro/).
ODK Central manages user accounts and permissions, stores form definitions,
and allows data collection clients like
[ODK Collect](https://docs.getodk.org/collect-intro/) to connect to it for
form download and submission upload.

![An ODK setup with ODK Build, Central, Collect, and ruODK](
https://www.lucidchart.com/publicSegments/view/952c1350-3003-48c1-a2c8-94bad74cdb46/image.png)

A typical [ODK workflow](https://docs.getodk.org/#how-is-odk-used):
An XForm is designed e.g. in [ODK Build](https://build.getodk.org/),
[published to ODK Central](https://docs.getodk.org/central-forms/),
and downloaded onto an Android device running ODK Collect.
After data have been captured digitally using
[ODK Collect](https://docs.getodk.org/collect-intro/), the data are uploaded
and stored in ODK Central. The next step from there is to extract the data,
optionally upload it into another data warehouse, and then to analyse and
generate insight from it.

While data can be retrieved in bulk through the GUI, ODK Central's API provides
access to its data and functionality through both an OData and a RESTful API
with a comprehensive and interactive
[documentation](https://docs.getodk.org/central-api-odata-endpoints/).

`ruODK` is aimed at the technically minded researcher who wishes to access and
process data from ODK Central using the programming language R.

Benefits of using the R ecosystem in combination with ODK:

* Scalability: Both R and ODK are free and open source software. Scaling to
many users does not incur license fees.
* Ubiquity: R is known to many scientists and is widely taught at universities.
* Automation: The entire data access and analysis workflow can be automated
through R scripts.
* Reproducible reporting (e.g.
[Sweave](https://support.rstudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/200552056-Using-Sweave-and-knitr),
[RMarkdown](https://rmarkdown.rstudio.com/)), interactive web apps
([Shiny](https://shiny.rstudio.com/)),
workflow scaling ([drake](https://docs.ropensci.org/drake/)).
* Rstudio-as-a-Service (RaaS) at
[![Hosted RStudio with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=rstudio)

`ruODK`'s scope:

* To wrap all ODK Central API endpoints with a focus on **data access**.
* To provide working examples of interacting with the ODK Central API.
* To provide convenience helpers for the day to day tasks when working with
ODK Central data in R: **data munging** the ODK Central API output into tidy
R formats.

`ruODK`'s use cases:

* Smaller projects: Example [rOzCBI](https://dbca-wa.github.io/rOzCBI/)
1. Data collection: ODK Collect
2. Data clearinghouse: ODK Central
3. Data analysis and reporting: `Rmd` (ruODK)
4. Publishing and dissemination: [`ckanr`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ckanr/),
[`CKAN`](https://ckan.org/)

* Larger projects:
1. Data collection: ODK Collect
2. Data clearinghouse: ODK Central
3. ETL pipeline into data warehouses: `Rmd` (ruODK)
4. QA: in data warehouse
5. Reporting: `Rmd`
6. Publishing and dissemination: [`ckanr`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ckanr/),
[`CKAN`](https://ckan.org/)

Out of scope:

* To wrap "management" API endpoints. ODK Central is a
[VueJS/NodeJS application](https://github.com/getodk/central-frontend/)
which provides a comprehensive graphical user interface for the management of
users, roles, permissions, projects, and forms.
* To provide extensive data visualisation. We show only minimal examples of data
visualisation and presentation, mainly to illustrate the example data.
Once the data is in your hands as tidy tibbles... urODK!

## A quick preview
ruODK screencast

## Install
You can install the latest release of `ruODK` from the
[rOpenSci R-Universe](https://ropensci.r-universe.dev):

```{r r-universe, eval = FALSE}
# Enable the rOpenSci universe
options(repos = c(
ropensci = "https://ropensci.r-universe.dev",
CRAN = "https://cloud.r-project.org"
))
install.packages("ruODK")
```

Alternatively, you can install the development version from the `main` branch.

```{r gh-installation, eval = FALSE}
if (!requireNamespace("remotes")) install.packages("remotes")
# Full install
remotes::install_github(
"ropensci/ruODK@main",
dependencies = TRUE,
upgrade = "always",
build_vignettes = TRUE
)

# Minimal install without vignettes
remotes::install_github(
"ropensci/ruODK@main",
dependencies = TRUE,
upgrade = "ask",
build_vignettes = FALSE
)
```

If the install fails, read the error messages carefully and install any unmet
dependencies (system libraries or R packages).

If the install fails on building the vignettes, you can set
`build_vignettes=FALSE` and read the vignettes from the online docs instead.

If the installation still fails, or the above does not make any sense,
feel free to submit a [bug report](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/issues/new/choose).

## Try `ruODK`
You can also run `ruODK` through hosted or self-built Docker images.

In decreasing order of simplicity:

* Launch a hosted RStudio Server
[![Hosted RStudio with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=rstudio)
* Launch a hosted JupyterLab server (with all kernel options available)
[![Hosted JupyterLab with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=lab)
* Download the pre-built
[ruODK Docker image](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/pkgs/container/ruodk)
based on the last tagged `ruODK` version

```
docker pull ghcr.io/ropensci/ruodk:latest
docker run ghcr.io/ropensci/ruodk:latest
```
* Build the latest `ruODK` version locally with your own GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT)

```
git clone [email protected]:ropensci/ruODK.git
cd ruODK
docker build . -t /ruodk:latest --build-arg GITHUB_PAT="..."
docker run -p 8888:8888 /ruodk:latest
```

The running Docker image will print a URL you can click on.
The URL will open [JupyterLab](https://jupyter.org/) in your browser.
From there, you can run any available kernel, amongst others are RStudio and a
plain R shell.

## Configure `ruODK`
For all available detailed options to configure authentication for `ruODK`, read
[`vignette("setup", package = "ruODK")`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ruODK/articles/setup.html).

## Use `ruODK`
A detailed walk-through with some data visualisation examples is available in the
[`vignette("odata-api", package="ruODK")`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ruODK/articles/odata-api.html).

See also [`vignette("restful-api", package="ruODK")`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ruODK/articles/restful-api.html)
for examples using the alternative RESTful API.

`urODK`, a sing-along `ruODK` workshop about you, R, and ODK,
is available on
[![Hosted RStudio with ruODK](https://mybinder.org/badge_logo.svg)](https://mybinder.org/v2/gh/ropensci/ruODK/main?urlpath=rstudio).

## Contribute
Contributions through [issues](https://github.com/ropensci/ruODK/issues) and PRs
are welcome!

See the [contributing guide](https://docs.ropensci.org/ruODK/CONTRIBUTING.html)
on best practices and further readings for code contributions.

## Attribution
`ruODK` was developed by Florian Mayer for the Western Australian
[Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)](https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/).
The development was funded both by DBCA core funding and external funds from
the [North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Program](https://flatbacks.dbca.wa.gov.au/).

ruODK is maintained and extended by Florian Mayer.

To cite package `ruODK` in publications use:

```{r citation}
citation("ruODK")
```

## Acknowledgements
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) acknowledges
the traditional owners of country throughout Western Australia and their continuing
connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them, their
culture and to their Elders past and present.

This software was created on Whadjuk boodja (ground) both as a contribution to
the ODK ecosystem and for the conservation of the biodiversity of
Western Australia, and in doing so, caring for country.

## Package functionality
See [`vignette("comparison", package="ruODK")`](https://docs.ropensci.org/ruODK/articles/comparison.html)
for a comprehensive comparison of ruODK to other software packages from
both an ODK and an OData angle.