Is there any program for GNU/Linux specifically made for econometric analysis (linear regressions, built-in hypothesis tests, instrumental variables, fixed/random effects models, and the like)?

I'm aware that such packages exist for R, but my few previous attempts at learning R syntax and such have produced nothing but a big question mark over my head.

I'm aware there is a version of STATA for Linux, but it costs an absolute minimum of $380 (that's with the educational discount; can't think of any students who can throw that down), which I can't quite spare at the moment.

Thanks.