[Cheat Sheet] Building the package

We are using devtools, usethis and pkgdown to build the package and create (hopefully meaningful) documentation.

If you are not familiar with the R packages, at least the following commands will be useful for contributing code, building and checking the package

Creating a new function

# Create empty R file to define function
usethis::use_r()

# Matching R testthis file where your unit tests should live
usethis::use_test()

Updating roxygen documentation (incl. namespace) and building

devtools::document() followed by devtools::build()

Install the package locally:

Simulate installing without actually installing the current version of the package

devtools::load_all()

Actually install the package

devtools::install()

Load installed version package

library(visR)

Build the page incl. documentation:

pkgdown::build_site()

After making changes and before committing, check the build using R CMD check:

devtools::check()

---

More can be found in Hadley's book on R packages: https://r-pkgs.org/

About the packages that we use to help with our development workflow:

• devtools provides R functions that simplify and expedite common tasks and make package development easier.
• usethis is a workflow package: it automates repetitive tasks that arise during project setup and development.
• pkgdown is designed to make it quick and easy to build a website for your package.