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Is there a mode in emacs that does syntax highlighting for the R programming language? R-mode doesn't seem to work...

Ned Batchelder
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Wilduck
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1 Answers1

84

Yes, there is: ESS.

And it is very highly recommended. And it does a lot more than just syntax highlighting so please read the docs.

Edit: Some ten+ years later, installation got easier too:

M-x package-refresh-contents ENTER
M-x package-install ENTER ess ENTER

You may want some related packages, eg poly-mode is good for markdown support, but this is a start.

Dirk Eddelbuettel
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    In case you want to install it, "ess" is available on melpa's packages. `M-x package-refresh-contents ENTER`, followed by `M-x package-install ENTER ess ENTER`. As of March2019, for emacs 25.1 and newer only. – init_js Mar 15 '19 at 07:27
  • @init_js you should make that a separate answer as this should be the preferred approach asof 2019 – baibo Oct 22 '19 at 11:52
  • I get no match for ess. – Finn Årup Nielsen Jan 18 '20 at 01:02
  • @FinnÅrupNielsen There is a link in my ten+ year old answer, and the link still works. These days you also get ess at melpa and other Emacs code repos if you are into that. – Dirk Eddelbuettel Jan 18 '20 at 02:02
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    In Ubuntu, I was able to get it to work by installing the Ubuntu/Debian package `ess`: `sudo aptitude install ess`. – Finn Årup Nielsen Jan 19 '20 at 17:14
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    Sure. I am the maintainer of that one. `ess` is actually transitioned to `elpa-ess` just like many other Debian / Ubuntu packages for Emacs. – Dirk Eddelbuettel Jan 19 '20 at 17:20