RStudio is an integrated development environment designed primarily for R programming, statistical computing and data science.
Its configurable workbench brings together a source editor, R console, plots, environment, history, files, packages, help and terminal. Code can be executed directly from the editor, while integrated debugging and navigation tools help with larger projects.
RStudio also provides extensive support for reproducible publishing with Quarto and R Markdown. Python can be used alongside R through the reticulate package, while projects, version control and background jobs support more complex development workflows.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Syntax-highlighting source editor with code completion, diagnostics, smart indentation, code navigation and direct execution of selections, lines or complete files.
- Customisable workbench integrating the R console, plots, environment, history, files, packages, help and system terminal.
- Interactive debugger with breakpoints, function tracing, error inspection and step-by-step execution.
- Integrated Quarto and R Markdown authoring with source and visual editing, executable code cells, inline output, citations and cross-references.
- RStudio Projects keep source files, working directories, history and project-specific settings together.
- Built-in Git and Subversion integration, including repository creation, commits, diffs, branches and version-control status.
- Data Viewer provides sortable and filterable views of R and Python tabular data, while the Connections pane manages multiple database connections.
- Package development tools support building, checking, testing, documenting and installing R packages.
- Runs long-running R scripts as separate background jobs so interactive work can continue in the main session.
- Python integration through reticulate allows Python scripts to be edited and executed while sharing objects between R and Python.
- Can run locally as RStudio Desktop or through a web browser with RStudio Server.
- Optional AI integrations include GitHub Copilot, Posit Assistant and Next Edit Suggestions.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: posit.co
Support:
Developer: Posit Software, PBC
License: GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
RStudio is written in Java, C++ and JavaScript. Learn Java with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn JavaScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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RStudio is extremely heavy a piece of software. It just takes over your computer just to crash at the end and, for you to restart it, you’ll wait a whole bunch of time!
RStudio is first-class software. We’ve never had a single crash with the software.
RStudio does consume RAM, but it’s superb software, rock solid. Maybe there’s something wrong with your computer, Pedro? Compiling all the R packages on a Linux box does take a long time; Windows actually is better in that respect as no compiling is needed.
I’ve had issues with crashing as well, typically if I start something else that’s resource intensive while running Rstudio (or maybe the other way around, but it was Rstudio that crashed.) I still use Rstudio extensively. My biggest issue is that it doesn’t use screen space efficiently.
I use RStudio every day. The user interface definitely isn’t perfect but it’s still fantastic software.
I never like having to compile all the libraries I use as I sometimes distro hop.