R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics, see R: What is R
R is an extensive software package which can perform a lot of statistical and numerical calculations. R can also be used for graphics. We will illustrate the methods and algorithms considered in the course through R. This will typically not be the most efficient language to use, but is easy to use and to illustrate the methods. Other languages can be used, but it will probably we easier to stick with R in order to copy and edit available scripts.
R is for free, you can download the program on your computer. Click here for downloading and more information about R
There are different extra packages that will be usefull. These needs to be installed locally. The package nlstools can be installed by the command (only once)
install.packages("nlstools")
When you want to use the library, you will have to give the command (every time you start up R)
library(nlstools)
A nice window-based environment to work on R is Rstudio, in particular if you work on linux or mac but also within windows. Most of the university computers should have both R and Rstudio installed.