2 R and RStudio

2.1 R

R is an open-source programming language originally developed for statistical analysis. It has gained popularity and functionality throughout the decades and is now a common workhorse for environmental data scientists. Download R from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) repository. Note that this website has an astounding amount of resources for curious R users (instructions, FAQ’s, manuals, and more).

Click on the link for your computer’s operating system (PC, Mac, or Linux), and you will be taken to a page with a few download options (titled “Subdirectories”). For the purposes of this package, click the link next to the “base” version that says “install R for the first time.”

The next page provides the download link, which downloads the executable file to your computer. Double clicking the install file opens an installer window. Be sure to note the folder in which you installed the R program.

When using the install wizard, comply with all default settings. It is highly recommended to create a Desktop or toolbar shortcut during install. Click “Finish” to finish installing R on your computer.

2.2 RStudio

RStudio is a user-friendly program for running R and its many packages. While not required for the secondary review process, RStudio is highly recommended for beginneRs wanting to learn more about R’s functionality and syntax. RStudio runs R behind the scenes and gives programmers an organized, clean interface in which to develop and run code.

Head to the RStudio Download Hub and select the free RStudio Desktop version for your operating system. Follow the download prompts and stick to default settings.

Now that you’ve installed the R program, the next step is to install the necessary R packages.