Frequently Asked Questions

What is R?

R is a programming language and software environment that is widely used across many disciplines for statistical analysis, data visualization, and data science. 

What is RStudio?

RStudio is an integrated development environment (IDE) specifically designed for the R programming language. 

Users can install a free and open-source version of RStudio on their local laptops.  

What is RShiny?

RShiny is a software package for R (and Python) that allows users to easily develop interactive web apps and dashboards for their data projects. It is useful for visualizing data dynamically and creating tools and analytics for other researchers. 

What is Posit Enterprise?

Posit Enterprise offers additional features and capabilities, compared to the free and open-source version of Shiny, that enhances collaboration, security, and scalability within the WCM environment. 

Posit Enterprise provides a robust and enterprise-ready platform for R-based data science workflows and applications. 

The majority of WCM users use R locally through a free installation of RStudio on their local machine. Research Informatics cannot provide support for users experiencing issues installing or configuring the local, client-side RStudio application.  

What functions does Posit Enterprise offer?

Posit Connect: Posit Connect is a publishing platform that enables researchers in the WCM community to share their RShiny webpages with others. It allows you to deploy Shiny applications, R Markdown documents, and other R-based and Python based assets to create interactive reports, dashboards, and data-driven applications. 

Posit Package Manager: Posit Package Manager is a comprehensive package management solution. WCM researchers can create and distribute internal R packages, ensuring consistent package versions.  

How can I deploy an RShiny app?

If you have an RShiny app that you would like to deploy, you can submit a Research Computing/Storage Request Form and someone from the Research Informatics group will set up some time to go over application requirements, and deployment workflow. 

How do I access Posit Connect?

Visit the URL for your instance and log in with your CWID and password. Each project will have its own individual instance and the URL will differ accordingly.  

Research Informatics grants access to a specific instance of Posit Connect after verifying that users have appropriate regulatory permissions.

Using Posit offsite: If you are not connected to the WCM network (i.e. offsite), you must be logged into Cisco Secure Client VPN to access Posit Connect.

Who should users contact with questions about Posit Connect?

Users can contact arch-support@med.cornell.edu with questions about Posit Connect.  

 

Can I access Posit Connect on mobile?

Yes, but functionality will be extremely limited. We recommend that you access the system on a desktop computer. 

 

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