What are R and RStudio?

Throughout this course we will use the R program to generate graphs. We will interact with R through the RStudio software. From your perspective, you will be using RStudio, but you will actually be writing code in the R language. RStudio simply helps make R a little easier to use. The following links provide very brief introductions to R and RStudio.

As you now know, both R and RStudio are free to use. You can install them on your own computer or your can use RStudio in a webpage. Directions for both are below.

  • Install R, RStudio, and associated package on your own computer – Windows or Mac.1
  • Use RStudio in a webpage (i.e., RStudio-in-the-Cloud) and not have to install anything.

 

Footnotes

  1. RStudio can be used on a ChromeBook but the setup is complicated. Some directions that may work for you are here, here, and here. I am not a Chromebook user and this looks endlessly confusing to me. It is possible, however, to use RStudio in “the cloud” through a web browser, which may be easier than installing on your ChromeBook – see here