VS Code

Replicate Rstudio functionalities in VScode such as syntax highlighting, script execution, R help & plots display:

Guide provided by Laura Spies

Step 1: installation

1. install Visual Studio Code from code.visualstudio.com
2. install R with the section install
3. install Python from python.org/downloads (hints for Windows users), preferably using the Anaconda distribution
4. optional: create a Conda environment for R (in the terminal):

conda create -n ProFun r-base=4.4 r-essentials radian -c conda-forge

5. optional: connect R to Jupyter (in the R console):

install.packages("IRkernel")
IRkernel::installspec(name = 'ir', displayname = 'R (ProFun)')
install.packages(c("repr", "IRdisplay", "IRkernel"))

6. install the necessary R packages (in the R console):

install.packages(c("languageserver", "httpgd", "jsonlite", "rmarkdown"))

7. install Radian, an improved R console REPL interface (in the terminal):

pip install -U radian
# alternatively, if employing Conda:
conda activate ProFun
conda install -U radian

8. check if the following initiates the R console within the terminal:

radian

9. download the following extensions for VSCode:

• Python
• Jupyter
• R Debugger
• R Tools
• R Extension Pack

Step 2: configuration

To access the settings.json file, press Ctrl + Shift + P, then type “Preferences: Open Settings (JSON).” Utilize the following JSON configuration:

{
    "editor.fontSize": 15,

    // R Settings
    "r.rterm.windows": "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\miniconda3\\envs\\ProFun\\Scripts\\radian.exe",
    "r.bracketedPaste": true,
    "r.lsp.path": "C:\\Program Files\\R\\R-4.4.1\\bin\\x64\\R.exe",

    // Terminal Profiles for R and Python
    "terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "ProFun (Radian)": {
        "path": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\cmd.exe",
        "args": ["/K", "conda activate ProFun && radian"]
 },
        "Python (Base)": {
            "path": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\cmd.exe",
            "args": ["/K", "conda activate base"]
 }
 },

    // Set Default Terminal Profile to Radian
    "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "ProFun (Radian)",

    // Keybindings for R-Specific Behavior
    "r.alwaysUseActiveTerminal": true,
    "r.plot.useHttpgd": true
}

Search for your keybindings.json and set keyboard shortcuts a sdesired, e.g.:

// R-Specific Keybindings
 { "key": "ctrl+shift+f10", "command": "r.restartSession" },
 { "key": "ctrl+shift+enter", "command": "r.runSource" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+i", "command": "r.createRmdChunk" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+h", "command": "r.help" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+o", "command": "r.viewObject" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+p", "command": "r.showPlotHistory" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+k", "command": "r.knit" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+f", "command": "r.changeWorkingDirectory" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+enter", "command": "r.executeCode" },
 { "key": "ctrl+enter", "command": "r.runSelectionAndMoveCursor", "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'r'" },
 { "key": "ctrl+shift+m", "command": "type", "args": { "text": " %>% " }, "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'r'" },
 { "key": "alt+-", "command": "type", "args": { "text": " <- " }, "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'r'" },
 { "key": "ctrl+shift+l", "command": "workbench.action.terminal.clear", "when": "terminalFocus" },
 { "key": "ctrl+alt+w", "command": "r.openWebHelp", "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'r'" },
 { "key": "f1", "command": "r.help", "when": "editorTextFocus && editorLangId == 'r'" },