R is the programming language that you use when working with data. RStudio is a development environment that makes working with R much more convenient. Both are free to download and install.
To download R, go to cloud.r-project.org and follow the instructions on the page. To download RStudio, go to rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download, scroll down and download the file recommended for your operating system.
When installing, you can always stick to the default settings, unless you have different preferences.
For UCR faculty: If you are using a UCR-managed laptop, you will need to go to the Helpdesk to have R and RStudio installed, as you don’t have administrative rights to install software on your computer. You can download the installation files on your own, but running the installation will ask for admin credentials, which Helpdesk can provide.
In case you get stuck at any point, or would like more guidance in the installation process, feel free to check out any of the following links: