This is loosely based on the combination of this and this tutorial. Perhaps I’ll add a command line version later. I’m sure there are better ways of doing this in the command line, but I’m still pretty new to Git so I’m sticking with what I know works.

This post is mostly just a way for me to remember how to get an existing R project on GitHub.

That’s when I know it’s time to get it up on GitHub. Look in RStudio’s file browser pane for the README.md file.Many of the R projects I start don’t pan out and end up in a scrap directory somewhere, but once in awhile I make enough progress to get worried that I’ll lose track of it. This should download the README.md file from GitHub. You should find yourself in a new local RStudio Project that represents your test repo on GitHub. I suggest you check “Open in new session”, as that’s what you’ll usually do in real life.A common rookie mistake is to have no idea where you are saving files or what your working directory is. Take charge of – or at least notice! – where the Project will be saved locally.myrepo, which coincides with the GitHub repo name. Accept the default project directory name, e.g.Still no luck? Go to chapter 13 for tips on how to help RStudio find Git. Do you NOT see an option to get the Project from Version Control? Restart RStudio and try again.

In “Repository URL”, paste the URL of your new GitHub repository.

File > New Project > Version Control > Git.

ġ2.3 Clone the test GitHub repository to your computer via RStudio Here’s how to do that in the shell, if current working directory is myrepo: cd. It’s just a regular directory on your computer. It’s a deeply pragmatic coping strategy if your local Git repo is goofed up, but the version on GitHub is pretty current.ĭelete the folder corresponding to the local repo any way you like. This is a actually a workflow we refer to elsewhere (see 37 as “burn it all down”. However, I encourage you to delete the local repository, so you can experience how we use RStudio to clone it and get a local copy. If you just completed the previous chapter, Connect to GitHub, that repo will be perfect! If you don’t have a suitable test repository on GitHub, follow the instructions in the next section. You will also need a test repository on GitHub.

You’ve confirmed that you can push to / pull from GitHub from the command line (chapter 11).

You’ve introduced yourself to Git (chapter 7).

You’ve installed/updated R and RStudio (chapter 5).

You’ve registered a free GitHub account (chapter 4).

Rstudio github tutorial