Tutorial

Install Git, Bash Shell, R & RStudio

Authors: Materials adapted from Software Carpentry by NEON staff

Last Updated: Apr 9, 2021

This page outlines the tools and resources that you will need to get started working on the many R-based tutorials that NEON provides.

Checklist

This checklist includes the tools that need to be set-up on your computer. Detailed directions to accomplish each objective are below.

Install Bash shell (or shell of preference)
Install Git
Install R & RStudio

Bash/Shell Setup

Install Bash for Windows

Download the Git for Windows installer.
Run the installer and follow the steps below (these may look slightly different depending on Git version number):
1. Welcome to the Git Setup Wizard: Click on "Next".
2. Information: Click on "Next".
3. Select Destination Location: Click on "Next".
4. Select Components: Click on "Next".
5. Select Start Menu Folder: Click on "Next".
6. Adjusting your PATH environment: Select "Use Git from the Windows Command Prompt" and click on "Next". If you forgot to do this programs that you need for the event will not work properly. If this happens rerun the installer and select the appropriate option.
7. Configuring the line ending conversions: Click on "Next". Keep "Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings" selected.
8. Configuring the terminal emulator to use with Git Bash: Select "Use Windows' default console window" and click on "Next".
9. Configuring experimental performance tweaks: Click on "Next".
10. Completing the Git Setup Wizard: Click on "Finish".

This will provide you with both Git and Bash in the Git Bash program.

Install Bash for Mac OS X

The default shell in all versions of Mac OS X is bash, so no need to install anything. You access bash from the Terminal (found in /Applications/Utilities). You may want to keep Terminal in your dock for this workshop.

Install Bash for Linux

The default shell is usually Bash, but if your machine is set up differently you can run it by opening a terminal and typing bash. There is no need to install anything.

Git Setup

Git is a version control system that lets you track who made changes to what when and has options for easily updating a shared or public version of your code on GitHub. You will need a supported web browser (current versions of Chrome, Firefox or Safari, or Internet Explorer version 9 or above).

Git installation instructions borrowed and modified from Software Carpentry.

Git for Windows

Git should be installed on your computer as part of your Bash install.

Git on Mac OS X

Video Tutorial

Install Git on Macs by downloading and running the most recent installer for "mavericks" if you are using OS X 10.9 and higher -or- if using an earlier OS X, choose the most recent "snow leopard" installer, from this list. After installing Git, there will not be anything in your /Applications folder, as Git is a command line program.

**Data Tip:** If you are running Mac OSX El Capitan, you might encounter errors when trying to use git. Make sure you update XCODE. Read more - a Stack Overflow Issue.

Git on Linux

If Git is not already available on your machine you can try to install it via your distro's package manager. For Debian/Ubuntu run sudo apt-get install git and for Fedora run sudo yum install git.

Setting Up R & RStudio

Windows R/RStudio Setup

Please visit the CRAN Website to download the latest version of R for windows.
Run the .exe file that was just downloaded
Go to the RStudio Download page
Download the latest version of Rstudio for Windows
Double click the file to install it

Once R and RStudio are installed, click to open RStudio. If you don't get any error messages you are set. If there is an error message, you will need to re-install the program.

Mac R/RStudio Setup

Go to CRAN and click on Download R for (Mac) OS X
Select the .pkg file for the version of OS X that you have and the file will download.
Double click on the file that was downloaded and R will install
Go to the RStudio Download page
Download the latest version of Rstudio for Mac
Once it's downloaded, double click the file to install it

Once R and RStudio are installed, click to open RStudio. If you don't get any error messages you are set. If there is an error message, you will need to re-install the program.

Linux R/RStudio Setup

R is available through most Linux package managers. You can download the binary files for your distribution from CRAN. Or you can use your package manager (e.g. for Debian/Ubuntu run sudo apt-get install r-base and for Fedora run sudo yum install R).
To install RStudio, go to the RStudio Download page
Under Installers select the version for your distribution.
Once it's downloaded, double click the file to install it

Once R and RStudio are installed, click to open RStudio. If you don't get any error messages you are set. If there is an error message, you will need to re-install the program.