Setup Checklist

Setup Checklist#

Accounts you will need to sign up for (action required)#

  • Cloud computing account (for computing access).

  • You will need openICPSR account, in order to download pre-publication materials. Please be sure to use your Cornell e-mail (or if not affiliated with Cornell, use your institutional email).

Accounts you will be signed up for (no action required)#

Software to install on your laptop#

  • Remote access app for CCSS Cloud Computing. Follow the current CCSS instructions for your operating system. Windows users should install the official “Windows App” from the Microsoft Store rather than the older Microsoft Remote Desktop app.

  • Git command line tool (download the software, then follow the guide on Installing Git on your computer

  • Command line (We will use the “Bash shell”, but PowerShell and Zsh will work, too)

    • Windows: “Git bash” comes with the Git install above. You could also use WSL2 (OPTIONAL, Pro)

    • macOS: Use the “Terminal” app (pre-installed)

    • Linux: Use any “terminal” app (pre-installed)

  • Visual Studio Code (download location), a powerful text editor

Other software is optional. You will use statistical software on other computers that we will get you access to.

Text editor vs. Word processor#

You want to use a text editor, not a word processor. The difference: a text editor creates simple text files, without fancy formatting.

If you are creating code in Stata, Matlab, or Rstudio, you are using a customized text editor, sometimes called an IDE = “Integrated Development Environment”. That is OK. But remember that all such program code is a straight text file.

General purpose text editors can view and edit them all, although they may lack some of the fancy features that make programming easier in the dedicated IDE.

Availability and Suggestions#

OS

Laptop

CCSS-RS

Custom node

MS Visual Studio Code

All

Suggested

Yes

Notepad++

Windows

Yes

Yes

vi

Mac, Linux

Note#

Help#

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