Information
R for Data Science, an influential book authored by Hadley Wickham and Garrett Grolemund, asserts that "R is a tool, not a magic box that spits out results" (Grolemund & Wickham, 2016). Understanding and harnessing the potential of R starts with familiarity and comfort in its environment. That's where RStudio comes into play.
RStudio: RStudio is an integrated development environment that enhances the R programming experience. It provides an interactive platform for working with R, making it accessible to users of all levels. To embark on your journey with R, it's essential to become acquainted with RStudio.
Here's how to get started:
Installation: Before you begin your adventure with R, you'll need to install both R and RStudio. Both are freely available and are compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
RStudio Interface: Once you have R and RStudio installed, open RStudio. The RStudio interface consists of four panes: the Script Editor (where you'll write your code), the Console (where code is executed and results are displayed), the Environment/History pane (which shows your current workspace and command history), and the Files/Plots/Packages/Help pane, which allows you to navigate files, view plots, manage packages, and access help documentation.
R Script: In the Script Editor, you can write, edit, and save your R code. It's a good practice to create and save R scripts for your projects, as this makes it easier to reproduce your work and share it with others.
Executing Code: To execute R code, simply type it into the Script Editor and press Ctrl+Enter (or Command+Enter on macOS) or click the "Run" button. The code will run in the Console, and any output or results will be displayed there.
Workspace: The Environment/History pane shows your current R workspace, which includes objects like data frames, variables, and functions that you create during your R sessions. It's a helpful way to keep track of your data and variables.
Help: When you need assistance with a function or package, you can use the Help tab to access R documentation and find information about specific functions or packages.
