[R-pkg-devel] Seeking for best way to manage package transitive dependencies

[Cesko Voeten]

Package B should import only the packages and functions that are used by package B. If package B does not use functions from package C, package B should not import package C. What package A does is package A's problem, not package B's. If package A requires package C, install.packages() will automatically install it when package C is being installed, just as package C is installed when package B is being installed.

I submit the following thought experiment: suppose that, at a later point in time, package A is re-written to not need package C. In this case, it would be incorrect for package B to still needlessly import package C.

Best,
Cesko

Op 10-10-2019 om 17:14 schreef neonira Arinoem:
> Suppose package B imports package A and package A imports package C.
> 
> Shall package B import package C, knowing that package B will use functions
> from package A that are using functions from package C ?
> 
> 
> Currently, package B imports package C. This leads to a note from CRAN
> stating
> 
> Namespace in Imports field not imported from: ‘lubridate’
>    All declared Imports should be used.
> 
> Doing so, I expect package B user not to worry about needed package B
> dependencies.
> 
>   What is the best way to to manage package transitive dependencies, in such
> a case ?
> 
> Neonira.
> 
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