Developing R packages for yourself and others

An introduction to package development given to R-Ladies Vancouver

Author
Affiliation

Reiko Okamoto

Government of British Columbia

Published

May 12, 2021

Abstract

R packages are a collection of functions, documentation, and sample data. Not only do they provide an excellent framework for organizing your code, but they also make it easier to share code with other R users. In this virtual workshop, we will develop a simple R package to gain an understanding of the development process. I will also reflect on my experiences creating an internal package on behalf of my colleagues at the BC Ministry of Health. I hope to shed light on the lesser-known non-technical aspects of package development by discussing how to identify what tools your teammates need to succeed and how to encourage them to adopt your package. This workshop is geared towards (but not limited to) those who are new to developing packages and those who are considering creating one to share within their organization and beyond.