Install R and Rstudio: why R rocks 💻 🔥

Unlock the power of data analysis and statistical computing with R and RStudio! Whether you are a student of public policy or a seasoned professional.

R
RStudio
Accesibility
Install
Author

Jorge Roa

Published

March 2, 2023

Install R and Rstudio: why R rocks

R provides a versatile and powerful toolset for users of all skill levels, making it the go-to choice if you’re looking for a cutting-edge solution for your data analysis needs. R has everything you need to advance your data analysis, regardless of your experience level or where you are in your career. We assure you won’t be disappointed, so why not join the millions of happy users who have already switched to R?

R is a free, open-source programming language that is widely used in data analysis and statistical computing. RStudio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that makes it easier to write and run R code. Installing R and RStudio is straightforward and can be done in a few simple steps:

Why R?

Due to its many benefits in statistical computing and data analysis, R is a strong and flexible programming language that has gained popularity recently. Here are some of the main benefits of using R:

  1. Open source software: R is open source, so users can access and alter the source code to tailor the program to their needs.

  1. Packages: Users can use R’s extensive package library to add functionality for specialized tasks like tables, visualization, and data manipulation. Right now, there are more than 18,000 packages available.

  1. Easy to use: R has an intuitive user interface that makes it simple for new users to learn and offers advanced features for seasoned users.

Step 1: Install R

First, you need to install R on your computer. You can download the latest version of R from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) website. Follow these steps:

  • Go to the CRAN website and click on the “Download R for (Windows/MacOS/Linux)” link.
  • Choose your operating system from the list and click on the corresponding link to download the installation file.
  • Once the file is downloaded, run the installation program and follow the instructions.

Step 2: Install RStudio

The latest version of RStudio can be downloaded from the RStudio website. After you have installed R, you can install RStudio, an optional but highly recommended IDE for R. The following actions should be taken.

  • Visit the RStudio website and select “RStudio Desktop” from the list of available products.
  • From the list, select your operating system, and then click the link to download the installation file.
  • Run the installation program after the file has been downloaded, then adhere to the prompts.

Step 3: Launch RStudio

Once you have installed R and RStudio, you can launch RStudio by double-clicking on its icon . When you first launch RStudio, you will be prompted to select a version of R to use. If you have installed only one version of R, it should be automatically selected. Otherwise, you can choose the version of R that you want to use.

Ready

You’ve now successfully installed R and RStudio on your computer. Now that R and RStudio are installed, you can begin writing and running R code.