Function for specifying minimum R version

[JosiahParry]

I am presently writing a package utilizing the native pipe. As such, I would like to specify the minimum R version as 4.1. I was hoping to be able to do this via usethis as I do not know how to format this in a DESCRIPTION file.

I see that there is a tangential closed issue at #631. My suggestion, however, is not to infer it from use_data() but rather be something stated explicitly by the developer themselves. It could, however, be inferred that R v4.1+ is necessary when the native pipe is used.

[malcolmbarrett]

You mean like use_package("R", type = "Depends", min_version = "4.1.0")?

I don't think this is off-label but don't quote me on that.

@jennybc assuming this is kosher, we still warn about adding something to depends instead of imports, which doesn't apply to this case

[JosiahParry]

That would be helpful! I was unaware I could use use_package() to add to depends. Then the use of min_version would satisfy.

[malcolmbarrett]

Sorry, I made it sound like a proposal rather than a solution. That code works out of box & is what I do, for better or worse

[jennybc]

Yeah the use_package() approach shown by @malcolmbarrett is the intended way, if you want to use usethis to do this. It's not something that comes up nearly as often as the main use_package() usage.

[JosiahParry]

Good to know! Thanks :)

[JosiahParry]

In light of the new check for R 4.1 incompatibilities in R-devel, it would be quite nice to have to a way to set the minimum version of R. I can never quite remember how to do it and come back to this issue every few months or so.

[malcolmbarrett]

Doesn't this solution still work? Or do you mean it's just hard to remember

[JosiahParry]

It definitely still works! Its just exceptionally difficult to remember how to do it and then quite tough to find this issue

My search history trying to get here

[kbvernon]

Just came across this myself and share the confusion. The proposed solution - treating R like an R package - has the feel of a hidden Konami Code. In terms of demand, I would think it would come up about as often as other one-off package development utilities, like use_mit_license().

Just my two cents, for whatever that's worth...