Our verdict: Positron feels like VS Code rearranged for data work: consoles, variables, plots and a data explorer are built in rather than added through extensions. It handles Python and R equally well and is free, also for commercial use. It is younger than RStudio, and its license is source-available rather than open source.
About Positron
Positron is a data science IDE from Posit, the company behind RStudio. It is built on Code OSS, the open-source base of Visual Studio Code, so the editor, keyboard shortcuts and many extensions will be familiar. Extensions come from the Open VSX registry rather than Microsoft's marketplace.
It runs Python and R side by side, each with its own interactive console, and adds panes for variables, plots, help, connections and a data explorer for large data frames. Positron is licensed under the Elastic License 2.0, which allows free personal, academic and commercial use but forbids offering it as a hosted service. Python or R must be installed separately, although Positron can install Python for you.
What it does well
- Python and R consoles. Interactive consoles for both languages with interpreter switching.
- Data explorer. Sorts, filters and summarizes large data frames in a grid view.
- Variables and plots panes. Shows objects in memory and a history of generated plots.
- Code OSS editor. VS Code-style editing, Git, terminal and extensions from Open VSX.
- Notebooks and Quarto. Runs Jupyter notebooks and renders Quarto documents.
Who it is for
Good fit
Data scientists and analysts who use Python, R or both and like the VS Code editor.
Look elsewhere
People who need Microsoft-only VS Code extensions or want a strictly open-source license.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free, also for commercial use
- Python and R are both first-class
- Data explorer and plots pane built in
- Familiar VS Code-style editor
Cons
- Source-available license, not open source
- Uses Open VSX, so some VS Code extensions are missing
- Younger and less mature than RStudio
How to install Positron
The link downloads the per-user x64 installer, which does not need administrator rights; a system-wide installer is on the same page. Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable if Positron does not start. Install R 4.2 or newer separately if you plan to use R; for Python, Positron can install an interpreter for you.
Questions about Positron
Is Positron free?
Yes. Positron is free for personal, academic and commercial use under the Elastic License 2.0. The license only restricts offering it to others as a hosted service.
Does Positron replace RStudio?
No. Posit continues to develop RStudio. Positron is an additional IDE aimed at people who work in both Python and R.
Can I use VS Code extensions in Positron?
Many of them, through the Open VSX registry. Extensions published only on Microsoft's marketplace are not available.
