sqldev-in-database-r-for-sql-developers.md

title	Tutorial for in-database analytics using R - SQL Server Machine Learning
description	Learn how to embed R programming language code in SQL Server stored procedures and T-SQL functions.
ms.prod	sql
ms.technology	machine-learning
ms.date	12/18/2018
ms.topic	tutorial
author	HeidiSteen
ms.author	heidist
manager	cgronlun

Tutorial: In-Database analytics for SQL developers using R

[!INCLUDEappliesto-ss-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md-winonly]

In this tutorial for SQL programmers, learn about R integration by building and deploying an R-based machine learning solution using a NYCTaxi_sample database on SQL Server. You'll use T-SQL, SQL Server Management Studio, and a database engine instance with Machine Learning Services and the R language support

This tutorial introduces you to R functions used in a data modeling workflow. Steps include data exploration, building and training a binary classification model, and model deployment. The model you will build predicts whether a trip is likely to result in a tip based on the time of day, distance travelled, and pick-up location.

All of the R code used in this tutorial is wrapped in stored procedures that you create and run in Management Studio.

Background for SQL developers

The process of building a machine learning solution is a complex one that can involve multiple tools, and the coordination of subject matter experts across several phases:

• obtaining and cleaning data
• exploring the data and building features useful for modeling
• training and tuning the model
• deployment to production

Development and testing of the actual code is best performed using a dedicated R development environment. However, after the script is fully tested, you can easily deploy it to [!INCLUDEssNoVersion] using [!INCLUDEtsql] stored procedures in the familiar environment of [!INCLUDEssManStudio].

The purpose of this multi-part tutorial is an introduction to a typical workflow for migrating "finished R code" to SQL Server.

• Lesson 1: Explore and visualize data shape and distribution by calling R functions in stored procedures

• Lesson 2: Create data features using R in T-SQL functions

• Lesson 3: Train and save an R model using functions and stored procedures

• Lesson 4: Predict potential outcomes using an R model in a stored procedure

After the model has been saved to the database, call the model for predictions from [!INCLUDEtsql] by using stored procedures.

Prerequisites

All tasks can be done using [!INCLUDEtsql] stored procedures in [!INCLUDEssManStudio].

This tutorial assumes familiarity with basic database operations such as creating databases and tables, importing data, and writing SQL queries. It does not assume you know R. As such, all R code is provided.

• SQL Server 2016 R Services or SQL Server 2017 Machine Learning Services with R enabled

• R libraries

• Permissions

• NYC Taxi demo database

Next steps

[!div class="nextstepaction"] Set up the NYC Taxi database