[R-pkg-devel] Case of package name

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 2024-12-30 10:36 a.m., Kevin R. Coombes wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I currently have a package on CRAN called "plasma" (which is an acronym
> for an algorithm). Reviewers of the paper submitted to describe this
> package/algorithm have requested that the name be changed to PLASMA to
> make sure that users don't somehow think we are talking about the
> similarly named component of the blood instead.
> 
> Is there any simple way (that won't burden or confuse the CRAN
> maintainers excessively) to make this change?
> 

I don't think so.  CRAN won't allow a package named PLASMA to be 
submitted because plasma is already there and names need to be unique 
irrespective of case.

The simplest thing that you could do is to choose a different name, e.g. 
PLASMA2, that doesn't conflict with any existing name, and then ask for 
plasma to be archived once PLASMA2 has been accepted.  But I think CRAN 
would be reluctant to do even this, because it inconveniences anyone who 
has used the plasma package.

Alternatively, point out these issues to the reviewers, and suggest that 
confusion with blood plasma is unlikely given the context and full title 
of your package.

Duncan Murdoch