Scribd
Upload
11 views7 pages

Install R and RStudio Guide

Uploaded by

ericnam2002
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views7 pages

Install R and RStudio Guide

Uploaded by

ericnam2002
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FinTech Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio

FNCE 2800/7800/WEMBA

1
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio
Welcome to FNCE 2800/7800: FinTech!
In this note you will find a step-by-step instruction on how to install R and RStudio, the tools
we will use for data analysis for the course. The instruction will address issues for both Mac
and Windows users.
R is a powerful language which is developed to conduct sophisticated statistical computation.
However, it is a command-line-based language and as a result not very user-friendly for
beginners. Luckily many ‘graphical user interface’ (GUI) are developed by third parties so we
can get through R more easily. In this course we will use RStudio although you are welcome
to choose any others you think that might work better for you.

1 Getting R
You can download R from the official R website: [Link] You should see
the following page after getting into the website.

Then click CRAN (circled in the screenshot) below Download on the left of the page, and you
will be led to a page with CRAN (the Comprehensive R Archive Network) Mirrors. As the
mirror servers are all the same, you can choose any one you like. However, for the sake of
speed, it is always better to scroll down the page and choose a mirror server in the United
States.

Page 2 of 7
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio

After choosing a mirror server of CRAN, you should see a page like this.

Click one of the highlighted links under Download and Install R according to the operating
system you are using (Mac OS X for Macs and Windows for others).

1.1 Mac Users


After clicking Download R for (Mac) OS X you should see a page like this.
Scroll down a little bit you should see a list like this.

Page 3 of 7
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio

Please download the R pkg file based on your current Mac version. The description of each
R pkg will tell you the appropriate OS version. If you are not sure about your system, you
can come to office hours or ask Wharton IT for help.
After downloading the right version of R for yourself, you can run then package and install it
to you Mac.

1.1.1 For those who got 3.3.3 or higher

If you have Mac OS X 10.9 or higher, you need to install another package, xQuartz, so that R
can be supported and run on your system. To get xQuartz, simply click the link on the same
page and you should be able to download the package.

You do not need to install anything else from R-project.


After getting the package(s) you need, install them and you are good to go with R on your
Mac.

Page 4 of 7
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio
1.2 Windows Users
After clicking Download R for Windows you should see a page like this.

You should click the link install R for the first time, and see the following page.

Click Download R 4.2.2 for Windows at the top of the page and your browser should start
downloading R automatically. After finishing downloading you can install R by yourself. For
windows users, there might be an issue with installing 32/64 bit versions. Generally you
should install the version according to your windows system. If you are not so sure, 32 bit
version can work on both systems. Ask for help from Wharton IT if you are still not sure
what to do.

Page 5 of 7
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio
2 Getting RStudio
The GUI provided by R is generally too simple and sometimes hard to use, and as a result
many third-party GUIs are developed to help users better access R. One popular choice is
RStudio.
ATTENTION: you need to have R installed before installing RStudio to avoid trouble.
To get RStudio, you should go to the RStudio official website.
Click on Download RStudio on the top right of the page, then click on RStudio Desktop
and click Download RStudio. You should get to a page like this:

Scroll down to the list of installers by operating system, and select the installer that
corresponds to your OS.

Page 6 of 7
Handout 1: Installing R and RStudio

If your bit operating system or Mac version does not match the list above, you can download
an older version of R studio (link available just above the table above on the web-page)

Open the installer and follow the downloading instructions, and you should now be good to
go!

Page 7 of 7

Common questions

Powered by AI

For users facing difficulties during installation, it is suggested to seek help from Wharton IT support or attend office hours for personal assistance. These resources can provide guidance on both technical issues and general installation queries .

While both Mac and Windows users download R from the CRAN mirrors, Mac users with OS X 10.9 or higher must also install xQuartz to support the X Window System, a step not required for Windows users. Windows users may need to decide on the appropriate version (32-bit or 64-bit) based on their system architecture .

When installing R on Windows, users must consider the compatibility of their system with 32-bit or 64-bit versions. While a 32-bit version can run on both types of systems, choosing the version that matches the system architecture ensures optimal performance. Users unsure about their system's specifications can default to the 32-bit version to ensure compatibility .

R's default GUI, while simple, can also be difficult for new users because it lacks the user-friendly features found in more advanced interfaces. This simplicity makes it less intimidating but can limit efficiency and ease of use, pushing new users to seek third-party solutions like RStudio that offer better tools and graphical interfaces .

xQuartz plays a crucial role for Mac users with OS X 10.9 or higher because it provides support for the X Window System, which R requires to function properly on these versions of Mac OS. Without xQuartz, R may not run effectively on Macs with newer operating systems .

The FNCE 2800/7800/WEMBA course presents R as a powerful language for conducting sophisticated statistical computations necessary for data analysis. It prioritizes the use of RStudio as a primary tool due to its user-friendly interface and capabilities, which make handling R's command-line functions more accessible to students .

Installing an outdated version of RStudio on systems with incompatible operating systems can lead to limited functionality or software instability. The instructions suggest downloading an older version of RStudio if the current version isn't compatible with the user's OS, providing a workaround to maintain operability while acknowledging system limitations .

Installing R before RStudio is essential because RStudio is a third-party GUI that relies on the R language being present to function properly. Without R, RStudio would lack the core functionality needed to execute R scripts and commands, leading to potential operational issues .

Choosing a CRAN mirror affects the download speed of R packages. Users are advised to choose a mirror that is geographically closer, preferably within the United States, to ensure faster download speeds. While all mirrors provide the same files, proximity can significantly enhance download efficiency .

Multiple third-party GUIs like RStudio are developed for R to address the limitations and user-unfriendliness of the default GUI. These GUIs offer enhanced features such as easier navigation, integrated development environments, better visualization tools, and overall user interface improvements, which facilitate a smoother user experience and increase functionality .

You might also like