What language or software should you use for your data analyses?

What language or software should you use for your data analyses?

There are several computer languages that allow you to conduct exploratory analyses with data. We are going to focus here on 3 of them and explain to you why, in our opinion, they are relevant if you need to start in the field.

What language or software should you use for your data analyses?

R

We're starting with R, because this language is considered by insiders to be The most intuitive language to learn, especially if you are just starting out and don't yet have computer programming skills. It is used by academicians or researchers and allows you to apply an infinity of statistical analysis and modeling techniques.

Photo d'une œuvre d'art numérique présentant des cubes lumineux.

Python

Its main rival is Python. The main difference is that Python is first and foremost A computer programming language which then evolved to be able to create data exploration functionalities. It is ideal for a computer programmer who wants to exploit data.

These first two languages are open-source so free of any payment for their use and have multiple libraries and packages that will allow you to quickly test the use of an algorithm.

SAS

We will finish by talking about SAS, a framework of software components that also allows the statistical processing of data. It is used in many businesses. However, it has the disadvantage of being paying by acquiring a license. So, if you want to start cheaply, R or Python will undoubtedly be better allies.

How to install R then Rstudio

To take a first step in data analysis, we invite you to install R and Rstudio on your computer. Free, full of resources thanks to a strong community, these two software programs will allow you to test your first automated statistical analyses.


R is the original software/language and Rstudio is an interface overlay that makes R more ergonomic and more fun to use. Moreover, consider installing R first and then installing Rstudio second. If you do the opposite, Rstudio won't work. Below, you will find a few links to allow you to install everything without problems:

Install R: https://cran.r-project.org

(Then) Install Rstudio: https://www.rstudio.com/products/rstudio/download/

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