Frequently Asked Questions

What programming languages are supported in Positron?

• R and Python are first-class supported languages via efforts here at Posit.
• Additional languages typically used in package development are supported via existing 3rd party extensions, that do not make use of the full Positron data science experience. Some examples include Rust, Javascript/Typescript, C/C++, or Lua.
• Positron provides public APIs for additional data-science languages to be supported in the future.

Is Quarto supported?

• The Quarto extension is required to enable full use of Quarto and .qmd files
• Open the Extensions tab via the vertical action bar on the left side of Positron
• Search for Quarto and install it
• This will enable the Quarto-specific features, including Quarto: Preview and code execution

Is RStudio going away?

• No. We are committed to maintaining and updating RStudio.
• While Positron and RStudio have some features in common, some R-focused features will remain exclusive to RStudio.
• We began developing Positron as part of our mission to support open-source data science in multiple languages, including R and Python.
• If you're currently using RStudio and are happy with the experience, you can continue to enjoy RStudio. RStudio includes 10+ years of applied optimizations for R data analysis and package development.

I'm coming from RStudio, and the Keymap is confusing

You can replace the existing Keymap that tries to avoid overwriting or conflicting with existing defaults by:

• Open Preferences: Open Settings via the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P) or the Gear icon at the bottom left of Positron
• Search for Keymap
• On "RStudio > Keymap Enable", check the box