Installing or Accessing R and RStudio#
Getting started with R? We recommend you use it along with RStudio, an integrated development environment (IDE), which makes R easier to use. You can install it on your computer or access it online. R and RStudio are also available on Quest.
If you already use an IDE you like, such as VS Code , you can use R there instead of through RStudio. R can also be installed and managed through conda/mamba environments and used in Jupyter notebooks.
Installing R and RStudio#
1. Install R. R is available from CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network) . From this page , choose the Download R link appropriate for your operating system.
Mac Users
If you have a Mac, you will need to choose between two different versions of R to install based on the CPU in your computer. To determine whether you have an Apple silicon chip or an Intel chip, go to the apple () menu > About This Mac. Look at the information for “Processor”; if it includes “Intel”, then you have an older Intel Mac. If it does not include “Intel”, you have an Apple silicon Mac.
Mac users should also install XQuartz .
2. Install RStudio. Install RStudio Desktop . It is step #2 (Install RStudio) on the linked page, which should update to the appropriate link based on your operating system.
3. Check the Installation. After installing both pieces of software, open RStudio to check the installation. It should start, and R should run in the Console window, listing the R version.
If you run into a problem, request a consulation and one of our data science consultants will help you troubleshoot.
Updating R#
If you installed R a while ago, you may want to update it. To update R, simply install the current version. If you’ve been using RStudio, when you restart RStudio after reinstalling R, it should pick up the new version. The R version is printed in the console when you start R/RStudio. Note that if the second number in the R version will change (for example, going from R version 4.3 to 4.4), you will need to reinstall all of your packages for the new version; this can take some time, so don’t upgrade R when you’re in a rush. You don’t have to reinstall all of your packages immediately; RStudio will prompt you to install any missing packages when you open a new script or notebook file.
To update RStudio, go to the RStudio Help menu > Check for Updates.
For current RCDS workshops , at a minimum your version of R should start with a 4, as version 4 introduced some new features that are used in our workshops.
Posit Cloud#
If you’re unable to install R/RStudio on your computer, or you plan to use R only occasionally (and not with sensitive data), you can use R/RStudio online instead.
Posit is the company that makes RStudio and several well-known R packages, such as the Tidyverse. They provide RStudio online through Posit Cloud , which includes a free usage tier. Posit has good documentation, including a Get Started guide.
If you’re participating in one of our workshops , you can pull the workshop materials directly from GitHub into a Posit Cloud project. When you create a new project, choose “New Project from Git Repository” and enter the GitHub URL provided for the workshop.
Quest Analytics Nodes#
RStudio can be accessed through an internet browser via the Quest Analytics Nodes. Northwestern graduate students, staff, and faculty are eligible for a Quest account/allocation, but a new account requires several days to set up. Using R/RStudio via the Quest Analytics Nodes is a good option if you already use Quest or are working with datasets that are larger than a few gigabytes.