3  Overview of R and RStudio

What is R ?

  • R, is a powerful language and environment for statistical computing and graphics.
  • R is an open-source programming language, widely used among statisticians, data analysts, and researchers for data manipulation, calculation, and graphical display.
  • R is not just a programming language, but also an environment for interactive statistical analysis.
  • It was developed by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and is currently maintained by the R Development Core Team.
  • It is a GNU project and is freely available under the GNU General Public License.
  • Packages: The R community is known for its active contributions in terms of packages. There are thousands of packages available in the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN), covering various functions and applications.
  • Platform Independent: R is available for various platforms such as Windows, MacOS, and Unix-like systems.

3.1 Installation and Setup

3.1.1 Install R

Download and install R from the Comprehensive R Archive Network CRAN and choose the relevant OS (Windows,mac,linux).

3.1.2 Install RStudio

RStudio is a recommended integrated development environment (IDE) for R. Download and install RStudio form POSIT and choose the relevant OS (Windows,mac,linux).

3.2 Overview of RStudio Panels

  • RStudio is a widely-used Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for R programming.
  • RStudio’s design enhances the efficiency and user-friendliness of coding, testing, and data analysis in R.
  • Its panels and features provide a comprehensive environment that caters to the needs of both novice and experienced R programmers.
  • It features a user-friendly interface and is divided into several panels, each designed for specific tasks. Here’s a detailed overview of these panels.
RStudio Panel Layout

Source Panel (Top-Left by Default)

Function

This panel is where you write and edit your R scripts and R Markdown documents.

Features
  • Syntax highlighting for R code.
  • Code completion and hinting.
  • Ability to run code directly from the script.

Console Panel (Bottom-Left by Default)

Function

This is where R code is executed interactively.

Features
  • Direct execution of R commands.
  • Displays results of script execution.
  • Keeps a history of your commands.

Environment/History Panel (Top-Right by Default)

Environment Tab
  • Shows the current working dataset and variables in memory.
  • Allows for inspection and management of data structures and variables.
History Tab
  • Records all commands run in the Console.
  • Enables re-running and insertion of previous commands into scripts.

Output/ Files/ Plots/ Packages/ Help/ Viewer Panel (Bottom-Right by Default)

Files Tab
  • Manages project files and directories.
  • Sets the working directory.
Plots Tab
  • Displays graphs and charts.
  • Allows for the export of plots.
Packages Tab
  • Lists and manages R packages.
  • Provides access to package documentation.
Help Tab
  • Offers R documentation and help files.
  • Useful for learning about R functions and packages.
Viewer Tab
  • Displays local web content such as HTML files from R Markdown or Shiny apps.

Additional Features

  • Toolbar: Quick access to common tasks like saving, loading, and running scripts.
  • Customization: Ability to rearrange the layout of tabs and panes.
  • Version Control: Integrated support for Git and SVN.