[R-pkg-devel] OpenCL R packages on CRAN

[Uwe Ligges]

On 13.03.2023 11:43, quirin stier wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I would like to ask what the current situation is regarding R packages
> for computations on the GPU. There are no more official CRAN packages
> using CUDA or OpenCL as foundation. There are only packages providing
> either access to OpenCL, tensorflow or similar and packages using
> directives in C++ via OpenMP.
> 
> My aim is to provide an R package using OpenCL. However, as far as I
> know, such package would not run in Windows. Does CRAN accept packages
> which are not compatible with every os?

CRAN asks for cross plattform code if possible. In some situations where 
it is not possible to provide cross plattform code, CRAN also accepts 
code that works for many (but not all) plattforms.

OpenCL and Windows: Why would a package using OpenCL not work on Windows?
We may have difficulties providimg binaries of the package (and checking 
it) as corresponding graphics hardware is not available on the 
build/check machines, but if possible you shopudl support that users 
with the required hardware can compile the package from sources on 
Windows, too.

Best,
Uwe Ligges