R is a free, open source statistical software and programming language used for statistical data analysis, based on the older S programming language.
saveRDS()
and loaded using readRDS()
.save()
and loaded using load()
.RStudio Desktop is a free, open source IDE (integrated development environment) for R (as well as other open-source programming languages used for data science, such as Python and Julia). It is created by Posit, PBC (formerly RStudio, Inc.).
RStudio does not replace R: You must install R before you can install or use RStudio. Instead, RStudio enhances the R programming experience with helpful features such as code completion, syntax highlighting, graph and table previews, and more. RStudio's interface is organized so that the user can clearly view graphs, data tables, R code, and output all at the same time.
Because RStudio is an enhanced programming environment for R, most of the files you can open/view using R can also be opened using RStudio.
saveRDS()
and loaded using readRDS()
.save()
and loaded using load()
.R and RStudio are free and open-source, and can be installed on any Windows, Mac, or Linux computer that you have appropriate permissions to install software. To install them, download the software from their respective websites. (If you wish to install RStudio, you must install R first.)
Alternatively, Posit Cloud (formerly RStudio Cloud) is a cloud-based option for using R and RStudio via your browser. Individuals who want to use R and RStudio as an individual can register for a free Posit Cloud account to try the service. For teams, courses, or individuals who need more projects, compute time, or storage space, subscription plans are available from Posit.