How to install R packages though RCall.jl

[logankilpatrick]

Hey folks, I don't know if I missed it in the docs but I did not see how to install a R package through Rcall. I posted a SO question here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/68048899/how-to-install-an-r-package-using-rcall-jl

[TheCedarPrince]

Also, @logankilpatrick if you run into problems, you could exit the RCall environment and open your R version and install packages directly inside of the native R REPL and then jump back into RCall mode. I've also found using renv helps preserve the package versions and needed packages properly.

[pat-alt]

I'm having a related issue and thought I'd revive this existing thread instead of opening a new one.

I can see how this all works out really nicely when working locally (fantastic package by the way). But what if I want to use RCall as a dependency of my own Julia package? Is there an elegant/preferred way of making sure that R package deps are installed (ideally upon load)?

Have posted a more detail question on discourse, but thought it's worth going straight to the source 😄.

Thanks!

[palday]

for posterity:

using RCall
reval("""install.packages(c("pkg1", "pkg2"))"""

[palday]

oh and @pat-alt

reval("""if(!require("mypkg")){
install.packages("mypkg")
library("mypkg")
}
"""

require returns a boolean about whether a package was successfully loaded, while library errors if the package can't be loaded.