[R-sig-Debian] Failing to install R 4.0.? on Raspian

[Chris Evans]

I have just invested very few pennies in a Raspian machine hosted by my ISP. 

The machine tells me: 

root using www:~# cat /etc/os-release 
PRETTY_NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux 10 (buster)" 
NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux" 
VERSION_ID="10" 
VERSION="10 (buster)" 
VERSION_CODENAME=buster 
ID=raspbian

So I have added a line to /etc/apt/sources.list

root using www:~# cat /etc/apt/sources.list
deb http://raspbian.raspberrypi.org/raspbian/ buster main contrib non-free rpi
deb http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/ buster main
deb http://cloud.r-project.org/bin/linux/debian buster-cran40/
root using www:~# 

and added the key using

apt-key adv --keyserver keys.gnupg.net --recv-key 'E19F5F87128899B192B1A2C2AD5F960A256A04AF'

following https://cran.r-project.org/bin/linux/debian/#debian-buster-stable

apt-get update 

runs fine but apt install -t buster-cran40 r-base gets me this:

root using www:~# apt install -t buster-cran40 r-base
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 r-base : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but it is not going to be installed
          Depends: r-recommended (= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but it is not going to be installed
          Recommends: r-base-html but it is not going to be installed
          Recommends: r-doc-html but it is not going to be installed
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.


aptitude why-not r-base says:

root using www:~# aptitude why-not r-base
Not currently installed
The candidate version 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0 has priority optional
No dependencies require to remove r-base

and aptitude install r-base says

root using www:~# aptitude install r-base
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  gfortran{a} gfortran-8{a} icu-devtools{a} libblas-dev{a} libblas3{a} libbz2-dev{a} libdrm-amdgpu1{a} libdrm-common{a} libdrm-nouveau2{a} libdrm-radeon1{a} libdrm2{a} libfile-basedir-perl{a} libfile-desktopentry-perl{a} libfile-mimeinfo-perl{a} libfontenc1{a} 
  libgfortran-8-dev{a} libgfortran4{a} libgfortran5{a} libgl1{a} libgl1-mesa-dri{a} libglapi-mesa{a} libglvnd0{a} libglx-mesa0{a} libglx0{a} libicu-dev{a} libio-stringy-perl{a} libipc-system-simple-perl{a} libjpeg-dev{a} libjpeg62-turbo-dev{a} liblapack-dev{a} liblapack3{a} 
  libllvm9{a} liblzma-dev{a} libncurses-dev{a} libncurses5-dev{a} libnet-dbus-perl{a} libpcre16-3{a} libpcre2-16-0{a} libpcre2-32-0{a} libpcre2-dev{a} libpcre2-posix0{a} libpcre3-dev{a} libpcre32-3{a} libpcrecpp0v5{a} libpng-dev{a} libpng-tools{a} libreadline-dev{a} 
  libsensors-config{a} libsensors5{a} libtcl8.6{a} libtie-ixhash-perl{a} libtk8.6{a} libx11-protocol-perl{a} libxaw7{a} libxcb-dri2-0{a} libxcb-dri3-0{a} libxcb-glx0{a} libxcb-present0{a} libxcb-shape0{a} libxcb-sync1{a} libxml-parser-perl{a} libxml-twig-perl{a} 
  libxml-xpathengine-perl{a} libxmu6{a} libxshmfence1{a} libxss1{a} libxv1{a} libxxf86dga1{a} libxxf86vm1{a} pkg-config{a} r-base{b} r-base-core{a} r-base-dev{ab} r-base-html{a} r-cran-boot{ab} r-cran-class{a} r-cran-cluster{a} r-cran-codetools{ab} r-cran-foreign{a} 
  r-cran-kernsmooth{a} r-cran-lattice{a} r-cran-mass{a} r-cran-matrix{a} r-cran-mgcv{a} r-cran-nlme{a} r-cran-nnet{a} r-cran-rpart{a} r-cran-spatial{a} r-cran-survival{a} r-doc-html{a} r-recommended{ab} unzip{a} x11-utils{a} x11-xserver-utils{a} xdg-utils{a} zip{a} 
  zlib1g-dev{a} 
0 packages upgraded, 97 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 1,812 kB/89.4 MB of archives. After unpacking 716 MB will be used.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 r-cran-boot : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but 3.5.2-1 is to be installed
               Depends: r-api-4.0 which is a virtual package and is not provided by any available package

 r-cran-codetools : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but 3.5.2-1 is to be installed
                    Depends: r-api-4.0 which is a virtual package and is not provided by any available package

 r-base : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but 3.5.2-1 is to be installed
 r-recommended : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but 3.5.2-1 is to be installed
 r-base-dev : Depends: r-base-core (>= 4.0.4-1~bustercran.0) but 3.5.2-1 is to be installed
The following actions will resolve these dependencies:

     Keep the following packages at their current version:
1)     r-base [Not Installed]                             
2)     r-base-dev [Not Installed]                         
3)     r-cran-boot [Not Installed]                        
4)     r-cran-codetools [Not Installed]                   
5)     r-recommended [Not Installed]                      

     Leave the following dependencies unresolved:         
6)     r-base-core recommends r-recommended               
7)     r-base-core recommends r-base-dev      

I assume that I have some part of R 3.5.? stuck in the apt system from previously installing R from 
the default raspian repositories (stupid of me).  There is nothing in /usr/lib/R (no directory) nor
does /usr/bin/R exist and I have (in desperation: not something I remember doing often with Debian 
machines) even rebooted the machine but no change.

I could wipe the machine and start over and not install R until after adding the buster line
deb http://cloud.r-project.org/bin/linux/debian buster-cran40/
to /etc/apt/sources.list and doing apt-get update

However, I thought I'd check things out here first. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Chris

-- 
Small contribution in our coronavirus rigours: 
https://www.coresystemtrust.org.uk/home/free-options-to-replace-paper-core-forms-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

Chris Evans <chris using psyctc.org> Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield <chris.evans using sheffield.ac.uk>
I do some consultation work for the University of Roehampton <chris.evans using roehampton.ac.uk> and other places
but <chris using psyctc.org> remains my main Email address.  I have a work web site at:
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and a site I manage for CORE and CORE system trust at:
   http://www.coresystemtrust.org.uk/
I have "semigrated" to France, see: 
   https://www.psyctc.org/pelerinage2016/semigrating-to-france/ 
   https://www.psyctc.org/pelerinage2016/register-to-get-updates-from-pelerinage2016/

If you want an Emeeting, I am trying to keep them to Thursdays and my diary is at:
   https://www.psyctc.org/pelerinage2016/ceworkdiary/
Beware: French time, generally an hour ahead of UK.