[R-sig-Debian] build dependencies was Re: [R] problem with rgl package

[Vincent Goulet]

Hi,

A bit late to the party, here. I added the following to the Ubuntu  
README in the SUPPORTED PACKAGES section:

The other r-cran-* packages are updated with Ubuntu releases only.  
Users who need to update (by recompiling) one of these R packages (say  
package foo with the Ubuntu name r-cran-foo) should first make sure to  
obtain all the required build dependencies with

    sudo apt-get build-dep r-cran-foo
I wouldn't want to enter into more details on how to (re)compile an  
Ubuntu package. I hope this will be enough for most users and  
situations.

Thank you for the excellent suggestions (I think it was originally  
from Jay).

Best,

Vincent

--
Vincent Goulet, Associate Professor
École d'actuariat
Université Laval, Québec
vincent.goulet at act.ulaval.ca   http://vgoulet.act.ulaval.ca


Le jeu. 07 mai à 15:28, Johannes Ranke a écrit :

> Hi,
>
> * Dirk Eddelbuettel <edd at debian.org> [090507 18:00]:
>>
>> Howdy,
>>
>> On 7 May 2009 at 11:28, G. Jay Kerns wrote:
>> | Dear R-SIG-Debian,
>
> ...
>
>> | Is there any way to include some form of this information on the
>> | README page of the Ubuntu section on CRAN? Here's how it reads  
>> right
>> | now, under "ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF R PACKAGES":
>> |
>> | "Installing R packages not provided with Ubuntu first requires  
>> tools
>> | to compile the packages from source. These tools are installed  
>> via the
>> | R development package with
>> |
>> |    sudo apt-get install r-base-dev"
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> | The above is, of course, true, but not the whole story.  In
>> | particular, for a supported R package like rgl there are additional
>> | tools needed to build it, which are not in r-base-dev, but which  
>> can
>> | be obtained with "sudo apt-get build-dep r-cran-rgl".  Perhaps  
>> there
>> | are other (supported) packages that require tools which aren't in
>> | r-base-dev.
>
> In the Debian README, it currently says:
>
> You only need r-base-dev if you want to compile R packages yourself  
> or other
> software depending on R (see section below on administration and  
> maintenance).
>
> So I am thinking to add the following:
>
> "Be aware that you may also have to install additional build  
> dependencies
> (typically -dev packages containing headers). The list r-sig-debian  
> is a
> good place to ask if you run into problems. If you are using these
> backports from CRAN, and just want to update a package r-cran-foo that
> is part of Debian, you can get the build dependencies by
>
>    apt-get build-dep r-cran-foo"
>
> How does that sound? Improvements welcome.
>
> Johannes
>
>> Good point!  Patches welcome. Vincent and Michael read this list  
>> too so maybe
>> that is something we can take off-list for some constructive work?
>>
>> | Under  "ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF R PACKAGES", how about  
>> something like:
>> |
>> | "Installing R packages not provided with Ubuntu first requires  
>> tools
>> | to compile the packages from source. *For the majority of R  
>> packages
>> | these* tools may be installed via the R development package with
>> |
>> |    sudo apt-get install r-base-dev
>> |
>> | Please note, however, that some packages may require tools not
>> | contained in r-base-dev, and the user must find and install these  
>> on
>> | an individual basis.  But in the case that R package 'foo' is
>> | supported (with an Ubuntu package r-cran-foo), then the following  
>> will
>> | identify and install such dependencies:
>> |
>> |   sudo apt-get build-dep r-cran-foo"
>>
>> Not bad, but if 'apt-get install r-cran-foo' works, why do we need  
>> to explain
>> how to re-compile it ?
>>
>> | I am sure that there are other people who could say what I am  
>> trying
>> | to say in a much better and more accurate way.  I would invite and
>> | welcome improvements.  I could imagine a similar statement or
>> | reference in SUPPORTED PACKAGES.
>> |
>> |
>> | Some may rightly argue that those experienced with Ubuntu will  
>> already
>> | know about "sudo apt-get build-dep" and it does not need to be  
>> posted
>> | on CRAN Ubuntu README.  But I was introduced to Ubuntu by way of R,
>> | and not the other way around.  For people like me, this would be
>> | great.
>>
>> Generally speaking, there are too many little tips and tricks so  
>> there is
>> always scope to do better, learn more, teach more, ...
>>
>> | >
>> | > We do _a lot of work_ for R on Debian/Ubuntu. Use it, you even  
>> have a
>> | > money-back guarantee. And ...
>> |
>> |
>> | Yes... I myself appreciate very much all of the hard work by Dirk,
>> | Doug, Vincent, and Michael, all.  Both off-list administration and
>> | on-list troubleshooting.  Thank you.
>>
>> Always a pleasure, especially when we see that it actually helps  
>> other
>> people.
>>
>> Dirk
>>
>> |
>> |
>> | Best,
>> | Jay
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> |
>> | ***************************************************
>> | G. Jay Kerns, Ph.D.
>> | Associate Professor
>> | Department of Mathematics & Statistics
>> | Youngstown State University
>> | Youngstown, OH 44555-0002 USA
>> | Office: 1035 Cushwa Hall
>> | Phone: (330) 941-3310 Office (voice mail)
>> | -3302 Department
>> | -3170 FAX
>> | E-mail: gkerns at ysu.edu
>> | http://www.cc.ysu.edu/~gjkerns/
>>
>> -- 
>> Three out of two people have difficulties with fractions.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> R-SIG-Debian at r-project.org
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>
> -- 
> Dr. Johannes Ranke                 jranke at uni-bremen.de
>
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