Ark is an R kernel for Jupyter applications. It was created to serve as the interface between R and the Positron IDE and is compatible with all frontends implementing the Jupyter protocol.
Ark aims to provide a complete set of reusable and interoperable tools for implementing IDEs for R:
- It is a Jupyter kernel that provides structured interaction (inputs and outputs) between R and a frontend.
- It is an LSP server that powers intellisense features such as completions, jump-to-definition, find-references, diagnostics, etc. It also has some formatting capabilities that we plan to develop over time.
- It is a DAP server for sophisticated step-debugging of R functions. It manages source references, creating them on the spot if needed, and integrates tightly with the Jupyter kernel to step through R code transparently and inspect local variables. Note: Support for breakpoints is currently missing but you can use debug(), debugonce(), or browser() to drop into the debugger.
The LSP and DAP features are currently only available in Positron but will be made available to other frontends in the future.
Publisher’s description
What is Ark?
Ark is an open-source program for Windows from Posit Software, PBC. It is written in Rust.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.1.252, released on June 19, 2026. 66 versions are listed since December 18, 2024, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 44 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (posit-dev/ark) has 339 stars.
Project description on GitHub: “Ark, an R kernel”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 44 a year)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: Ark is an open-source Windows tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is Ark safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
5A6A02D10A74E8A4D1D612509D9A926C2B9D79E805628553B0A04ECA4B94B523· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 66 versions ›66 versions over 2 years · about 44 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1.252Latest | June 19, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.251 | April 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.250 | April 9, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.249 | April 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.248 | April 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.247 | April 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.246 | March 31, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| 0.1.245 | March 20, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Posit.Ark -eProgram files (.exe): ark.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Posit Software, PBC
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/posit-dev/ark
- Written in
- Rust
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 0.1.252
- Released
- June 19, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 4, 2025
- Versions listed
- 66
- Updates / year
- 44
- GitHub stars
- 339
- GitHub forks
- 32
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Posit.Ark
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ark free?
Yes. Ark is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Ark safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Ark with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does Ark run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Ark?
The versions page lists all 66 versions with links to their official installer files, back to December 18, 2024.
Can I use Ark without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
