Install Git, Bash Shell, R & RStudio | NSF NEON (2024)

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

1. Download the Git for Windows installer.
2. 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 noneed to install anything. You access bash from the Terminal(found in/Applications/Utilities). You may want to keepTerminal in your dock for this workshop.

Install Bash for Linux

The default shell is usually Bash, but if yourmachine is set up differently you can run it by opening aterminal and typing bash. There is no need toinstall anything.

Git Setup

Git is a version control system that lets you track who made changes to whatwhen and has options for easily updating a shared or public version of your codeon GitHub. You will need asupportedweb browser (current versions of Chrome, Firefox or Safari, or Internet Explorerversion 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 anearlier OS X, choose the most recent "snow leopard" installer, fromthis 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 touse 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 toinstall it via your distro's package manager. For Debian/Ubuntu runsudo apt-get install git and for Fedora runsudo 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 DownloadR for (Mac) OS X
• Select the .pkg file for the version of OS X that you have and the filewill 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 distributionfrom CRAN. Oryou can use your package manager (e.g. for Debian/Ubunturun sudo apt-get install r-base and for Fedora runsudo 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.