Documentation
Everything the app can do, where to find it, and what happens to your data. New here? Start with the walkthrough.
Installation
One line installs and launches everything — R (if you don't have it), the app, and its R packages, into your user folder. No admin rights, no Docker.
iwr -useb https://easyanalysis.dev/install.ps1 | iex
curl -fsSL https://easyanalysis.dev/install.sh | sh
What it does, in order: finds or downloads a portable R → downloads the app → installs missing packages into a private library → starts the app and opens your browser. The first run can take several minutes; later runs start in seconds because each step is cached.
On Windows R is downloaded automatically if you don't have it. On macOS/Linux an existing R is used; if there is none the script installs it with Homebrew where available, or tells you the single command for your system. Spatial packages compile from source on macOS/Linux, so the first run takes longer there.
Requirements
| Item | Needed |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows, macOS and Linux |
| R | Windows: downloaded automatically if missing. macOS/Linux: an existing R is used, or installed via Homebrew / your package manager |
| Disk | ~2 GB for R and the spatial packages |
| Memory | 8 GB is comfortable; large point clouds want more |
| Internet | Only for install, package downloads, basemap tiles and satellite search |
| Account | None. There is no sign-in and no cloud service. |
The workspace
One frame holds everything, so you never switch screens mid-analysis.
| Region | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Menu bar | Project · Edit · View · Add Data · Processing · Controls · Packages · Settings · Help, plus a tool search box |
| Layers panel (left) | Every dataset and layer, each with a visibility switch and an expandable legend / styling |
| Canvas (centre) | The map, the chart builder, or the active tool's results |
| Tool panel (right) | The open tool's settings; can be floated or minimised |
| Results dock (far right) | Past results, as chips — click to pop one out, drag and resize it |
| R console (bottom) | Slides up on demand for direct R |
| Status bar | Project, active dataset, dimensions, memory in use, and where the project is saved |
Views: Map view for spatial layers, Data view for tables and charts, and Split for both with a draggable divider. The app opens on whichever suits your data and then leaves the choice to you.
Methods available
| Group | Methods |
|---|---|
| Data | Column management, row filtering, type conversion, factor levels, aggregation, binning, imputation, joins, batch apply; descriptive statistics and correlation |
| Statistics | t-tests and non-parametric tests, chi-square, ANOVA with Tukey HSD, linear regression (multiple, polynomial, ridge/lasso, Poisson), logistic and multinomial regression, linear mixed effects, GAM, survival analysis, SEM and mediation, Bayesian analysis, time series |
| Machine learning | Random forest, XGBoost, decision trees, support vector machines, neural networks, discriminant analysis (LDA, WLDA, QDA, RLDA, KDA, LLDA, MMC), clustering (k-means, hierarchical, Gower/PAM), one-vs-all classification, PCA and dimension reduction |
| Spatial & LiDAR | Raster and vector analysis, surface models (DTM/DSM/CHM), terrain analysis, hydrology, suitability modelling, land classification, night-time lights, climate trend, wind, satellite search and download, point cloud viewing, canopy height models, individual tree detection, LiDAR metrics |
Model screens report R², RMSE, bias and relative RMSE, and increasingly a plain-English reading of the result. Models only run when you press Run.
Supported files
| Kind | Extensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tables | .csv .txt .xlsx .xls | Separator and numeric detection configurable in Settings |
| Raster | .tif .tiff .img .asc .nc .grd | Drawn on the map; large rasters are downsampled for display only |
| Vector | .shp .gpkg .geojson .json | Shapefiles need all their sidecar files selected together |
| Point cloud | .las .laz | Decimated on read to protect memory |
| Project | .eap | A whole project in one file |
Projects & storage
A project is a folder on your machine. Tables are stored inside it; large spatial files are referenced in place so nothing is duplicated. Work is saved as you go — there is no Save button to forget.
- Where: your local app-data folder; the exact path is shown in the status bar.
- Save As (.eap): zips the project into one shareable file.
- Import: opens a
.eapsomeone sent you. - Export report: a self-contained HTML summary of the project.
Packages
Core methods work out of the box. Some optional ones need an extra R package — the app tells you which, and installs it for you.
- Packages ▸ Find & install — search CRAN (typos are tolerated) and install from the result row.
- Optional packages — the list of extras, showing what's already installed.
- After installing, the package is loaded immediately — no restart.
Privacy & security
The app runs entirely on your machine. There is no account, no cloud storage
and no telemetry. It listens only on 127.0.0.1, so nothing is exposed to your network.
| Goes online | When | What is sent |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Only if you use the Co-Analyst | The current screen's context and a picture of the current plot, with your own API key |
| CRAN | Installing packages | Package names only |
| Basemap tiles | Viewing the map | Standard map tile requests |
| Satellite archives | Only when you search for imagery | Your search area and dates |
Your data files are never uploaded anywhere. Close the Co-Analyst and the app makes no calls that involve your data at all.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| The browser tab is blank or stale | Hard-refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R) |
| "Port in use" | An older copy is still running — close that terminal window, then start again |
| The app stops when I close the terminal | Expected: that window is the app. Keep it open. |
| A large .laz is slow or fails | Point clouds are decimated on read, but very large files still need memory. Watch the memory reading in the status bar. |
| My raster is in the wrong place on the map | Its CRS is missing or wrong; set it in the raster tools before mapping. |
| A method says a package is missing | Packages ▸ Find & install, then run it again |
| The Co-Analyst won't answer | Add your OpenAI key with the gear icon in its panel |
How to cite
If EasyAnalysis contributed to your work, please cite it. A formal citation file is being prepared; in the meantime the version number is in Help ▸ About.