How to Install R on Ubuntu

Posted on by Noah Belkacem

Introduction

R is a popular programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics. If you’re an Ubuntu user and want to use R for data analysis or statistical modeling, this tutorial will guide you through the installation process.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing R, it’s always a good idea to update the system packages to ensure you have the latest software versions. Open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The first command, sudo apt update, updates the package lists for upgrades and new package installations. The second command, sudo apt upgrade, upgrades the installed packages to their latest versions.

Step 2: Install R

To install R on Ubuntu, you can use the default package manager. Open the terminal and enter the following command:

sudo apt install r-base

This command will install the base R package along with the necessary dependencies. The installation process may take a few minutes, depending on your internet connection speed.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Once the installation is complete, you can verify if R is installed correctly. Open the terminal and type:

R

This will launch the R console. You should see the R prompt indicating that R is running. You can exit the R console by typing q() and pressing Enter.

Step 4: Install RStudio (Optional)

While R can be used from the command line, many users prefer using RStudio, an integrated development environment (IDE) for R. RStudio provides a user-friendly interface with features like code editing, debugging, and data visualization.

To install RStudio, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the RStudio download page and download the appropriate version for Ubuntu.
  2. Once the download is complete, open the terminal and navigate to the directory where the downloaded file is located.
  3. Run the following command to install RStudio:
sudo dpkg -i rstudio-x.yy.zzz-amd64.deb

Replace “rstudio-x.yy.zzz-amd64.deb” with the actual filename of the downloaded package.

Step 5: Launch RStudio

After the installation, you can launch RStudio from the applications menu or by running the following command in the terminal:

rstudio

RStudio will open, providing you with a user-friendly interface for working with R. You can create new R scripts, execute code, and view the console output and plots within the RStudio environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I uninstall R from Ubuntu?

To uninstall R from your Ubuntu system, open the terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt remove r-base

This command will remove the R package and its dependencies from your system.

2. Can I install specific versions of R?

Yes, you can install specific versions of R on Ubuntu. Visit the CRAN Ubuntu page to find the available versions and follow the instructions provided.

3. How do I update R and its packages?

To update R and its packages, open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade r-base

The first command updates the package lists, and the second command upgrades the R base package to the latest version. You can also use the install.packages() function within R to update individual packages.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed R on your Ubuntu system. Whether you choose to use R from the command line or with RStudio, you’re now ready to explore the world of statistical computing and data analysis.

Remember to regularly update R and its packages to ensure you have the latest features and bug fixes. Happy coding!