1. Getting Started with R: Installation and First Steps

R
Setup
Basics
Author

Lorenzo Longobardi

Published

November 6, 2024

What is R? 🤔

R is much more than just a statistical software! It’s a complete programming language and environment designed for:

  • Data analysis and statistics
  • Data visualization
  • Machine learning
  • Report generation
  • Web applications
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • And much more!
Real-World Applications in Fisheries
  • Analyzing catch data
  • Creating automated reports
  • Making interactive dashboards
  • Mapping fishing grounds
  • Population modeling
  • Image analysis (e.g., fish identification)
  • Environmental data processing

Pros of R? 🎯

  1. Free and Open Source
    • No license costs
    • Community-driven development
    • Transparent methods and algorithms
  2. Huge Community
    • Over 19,000 packages available
    • Active support forums
    • Regular updates and improvements
  3. Reproducible Research
    • Code documents every step
    • Easy to share and verify methods
    • Perfect for scientific publications
  4. Versatile
    • Works on all major operating systems
    • Handles various data formats
    • Integrates with other tools

Installing R and RStudio 💻

Step 1: Install R

First, you need to install R itself:

  1. Go to CRAN (The Comprehensive R Archive Network)
  2. Click on the link for your operating system:
    • Windows: “Download R for Windows” → “base” → Download the .exe file
    • Mac: “Download R for macOS” → Select the appropriate version
    • Linux: Choose your distribution and follow the instructions
Installation Tips
  • Windows users: Install R in the default directory (usually C:Files)
  • Mac users: You might need administrator privileges
  • Linux users: Consider using your package manager (apt, yum, etc.)

Step 2: Install RStudio

RStudio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that makes working with R much easier:

  1. Visit RStudio Downloads
  2. Scroll down to “RStudio Desktop”
  3. Download the free version for your operating system
  4. Install following the default options
Important

Always install R first, then RStudio. RStudio needs R to work!

Understanding RStudio’s Interface 🖥️

RStudio has four main panels (clockwise from top-left):

Rstudio standard interface
  1. Program Pane
    • Where you write and edit your code
    • Create and modify R scripts
    • Write R Markdown documents
  2. Environment/History
    • Lists your current objects and data
    • Shows command history
    • Manages connections
  3. Files/Plots/Packages/Help
    • Browse files and folders
    • View plots
    • Install and load packages
    • Access documentation
  4. Console
    • Run R commands directly
    • See output and messages
    • Test quick calculations

Creating Your First R Project 📁

Projects help organize your work and make it portable. Here’s how to create one:

  1. In RStudio, click File → New Project
  2. Choose New Directory
  3. Select New Project
  4. Fill in:
    • Directory name (e.g., “my_fisheries_analysis”)
    • Where to create the project
    • Click “Create Project”

Understanding Project Structure

A well-organized project should have these folders:

my_fisheries_analysis/
├── data/          # Raw data files
│   ├── raw/      # Original, unchanged data
│   └── processed/ # Cleaned and processed data
├── R/            # R scripts
├── outputs/      # Results, figures, tables
│   ├── figures/  # Plots and visualizations
│   └── tables/   # Generated tables
└── docs/         # Documentation and reports
Best Practices for Project Organization
  • Keep raw data separate and unchanged
  • Use relative paths (project root as reference)
  • Name files and folders consistently
  • Include a README file explaining the project

Your First Task: Setting Up Your Environment 📋

  1. Install Required Software
    • Download and install R
    • Download and install RStudio
    • Test that both are working
  2. Create Your First Project
    • Open RStudio
    • Create a new project called “ssf_analysis”
    • Set up the folder structure as shown above
  3. Verify Your Setup
    • Open RStudio and create a new R script
    • Save it in your R folder
    • Try this simple code:

Troubleshooting Common Issues 🔧

Problem: R/RStudio Won’t Install

  • Check system requirements
  • Run installer as administrator
  • Clear temporary files and try again

Problem: Can’t Create Project

  • Check write permissions in target directory
  • Close other RStudio instances
  • Restart RStudio

Problem: RStudio Doesn’t Find R

  • Reinstall R first, then RStudio
  • Check if R is in system PATH (Windows)
  • Verify R installation directory

Next Steps 🚀

After completing this setup: 1. Explore RStudio’s interface 2. Try creating and saving some R scripts 3. Practice navigating your project structure 4. Get ready for data import and analysis!

Additional Resources

Remember: Taking time to set up your environment properly will save you hours of frustration later!

Next: Basic Operations