START HERE
Know which tool is doing what.
| Tool | Use in camp | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| R | Run code and statistical analysis. | Yes |
| RStudio Desktop | Edit scripts, view files and plots. | Recommended |
| Quarto | Render the optional field notebook and slides. | Yes |
| Codex | Baseline coding agent for project-aware help. | Yes |
| Claude Code | Alternative coding agent. | Optional |
INSTALL ORDER
Use the official installers.
- 01Install R from CRAN.
- 02Install RStudio Desktop.
- 03Install Quarto.
- 04Open the
math-camp/2026folder as your project workspace. - 05Sign in to Codex with the Harvard-supported account route provided in class.
Keep scripts, data references, notes, and generated output inside one project. Do not rely on files sitting on the Desktop or commands that exist only in console history.
SMOKE TEST
Run the smallest complete loop.
install.packages(c("tidyverse", "here"))
library(tidyverse)
library(here)
test <- tibble(country = c("A", "B"), value = c(3, 7))
summarise(test, mean_value = mean(value))
here()You should see a mean of 5 and a path pointing to the project. Then run quarto check in a terminal.
- □RStudio opens without an installation prompt.
- □The two libraries load without an error.
- □
here()points to the intended project. - □
quarto checkfinds both Quarto and R.
CODING AGENTS
Give the agent project context, not private data.
Codex is the common baseline. Claude Code is welcome if you prefer it. Both can read project files, propose code, explain errors, and run checks. Neither can decide whether a policy claim is valid.
Read this project without changing files. Identify the data directory, lesson pages, and any setup instructions. Tell me what you know from the files, what you infer, and what you still need me to decide.
Use only public, synthetic, or course-approved data. Never paste personal records, credentials, API secrets, confidential research material, or identifiable student information into an AI tool.
IF SOMETHING FAILS
Bring the evidence of the failure.
Capture the exact error, the command that produced it, your operating system, and the output of sessionInfo() or quarto check. A screenshot alone often hides the most useful context.