Installing RStudio Desktop on the Mac

We recommend using RStudio Desktop, because it *provides a user-friendly environment with 4 pane views which makes it easier to use for examining data, writing scripts and running R analyses.* Additionally, RStudio Desktop provides a feature-rich app for developing Shiny apps, R Markdown documents and much more. We will run through the steps needed to get you up and running _RStudio Desktop**_ on your Mac. Here is an overview:

  1. Download and Install R
  2. Download and Install RStudio Desktop

Download and Install R

  1. If you already have R, check that it is the latest version. On the Mac, launch R from the Applications folder and Check For R Updates under the R menu. If you have the latest version, omit steps 2 and 3 and move on to the next section.

    Installing%20RStudio%20Desktop%20on%20the%20Mac%20c81e22d4d4ea44cea2e5ab459c872765/Rconsole.png

  2. Download the latest stable and non-prerelease version available. As of June 2020, that is version 4.0.0. Download R from the following website:

    The R Project for Statistical Computing

    • Detailed steps on download here:
      • Click on the hyperlink download R.
      • Select your favorite CRAN Location by country.
      • In the Download and Install R box, select the download for your OS. In this example Mac OS link.

  3. On the Mac, you will find an installer file with name something like this R-4.0.0.tar or R-4.0.0.tar.gz in the Downloads folder. Double click the installer and follow instructions.

Download and Install RStudio Desktop

  1. If you already have RStudio Desktop, check that it is the latest version. On the Mac, launch RStudio Desktop from the Applications folder and Check for Updates under the Help menu. If you have the latest version, omit steps 2 and 3 and move on to the next section.

    Installing%20RStudio%20Desktop%20on%20the%20Mac%20c81e22d4d4ea44cea2e5ab459c872765/Rsthelp.png

  2. Download the free version of RStudio Desktop. As of April 2020, that is version 1.3.959. Download from the following website.

    Download RStudio

  3. On the Mac, you will find the RStudio-1.3.959.dmg installer in the Downloads folder. Double click the installer and follow instructions

A word about Packages for RStudio Desktop

Packages extend the functionality of R and provide a mechanism of sharing code. Installation of packages is a topic for another webpage Installing Packages on RStudio Desktop.