RKWard is an easy to use and easily extensible IDE/GUI for R. It aims to combine the power of the R-language with the ease of use of commercial statistics tools.
RKWard’s features include:
- Spreadsheet-like data editor
- Syntax highlighting, code folding and code completion
- Data import (e.g. SPSS, Stata and CSV)
- Plot preview and browsable history
- R package management
- Workspace browser
- GUI dialogs for all kinds of statistics and plots
RKWard’s features can be extended by plugins, and it’s all free software.
Publisher’s description
What is RKWard?
RKWard is an open-source ides & code editor program for Windows from KDE e.V..
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (Inno Setup). The main installer is 340.0 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.8.3, released on April 24, 2026. 5 versions are listed since October 24, 2022, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 1.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
On Windows it registers 4 file types, including .r, .rmd, .rdata and .rko. Similar programs include RStudio, OpenCode and Apache NetBeans.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Large download (340.0 MB)
In short: RKWard is an open-source ides & code editor tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is RKWard safe to download?
- The file is served by download.kde.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
B8DB6D61B5738951A68D79FC2EAEC5149AEC30DBB7C0387E3D8E7F235E2B4ED0· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- 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 5 versions ›5 versions over 3 years · about 1.4 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8.3Latest | April 24, 2026 | 340.0 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.8.2 | October 1, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.8.1 | April 21, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.8.0 | July 28, 2024 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.7.5-rc1 | October 24, 2022 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id KDE.RKWard -erkward-0.8.3-x86_64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- KDE e.V.
- Category
- IDEs & code editors
- Licence
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 0.8.3
- Released
- April 24, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 6, 2024
- Versions listed
- 5
- Updates / year
- 1.4
- Website
- rkward.kde.org
- winget ID
- KDE.RKWard
File types it opens (4)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is RKWard free?
Yes. RKWard is open-source software under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
Is RKWard safe to download?
The download comes from download.kde.org, 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 RKWard 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.
Can RKWard be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does RKWard 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 RKWard?
The versions page lists all 5 versions with links to their official installer files, back to October 24, 2022.
Can I use RKWard without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to RKWard?
RStudio, OpenCode, Apache NetBeans, Node.js (LTS) and VSCodium. The alternatives page compares them.
