.Rprofile with devtools::install_github() loops

I am sure this must be documented somewhere and that I'm missing something obvious but some searching isn't finding an answer and I'm sure there is one.

I have created a very simple package on GitHub and want my machines (other than the one that built it) to load it when they start R using devtools::install_github()

The install_github() call works fine from the console but when I put it in my .Rprofile it just loops on restarting R.  I _think_ it may be that devtools::install_github()
is restarting the session as I found one thing on the web suggesting that may be the case.  However, I think if it were the case it would be documented and I'd find
far more about that.

OK.  So my .Rprofile is:

print("This is a message from /home/chris/.Renviron: hello Chris!")
.First <- function(){
    devtools::install_github("xxxx/yyyy")
}
print("OK, off you go!")

I have obscured my package to protect my blushes but I get the same behaviour with r-lib/devtools and, as I say, my little package loads OK from the console.

You can see I tried wrapping it in a .First() function but that didn't change anything.

True both on a Linux machine and a Windows machine.

OK.  Anyone save me from more dents in the wall and frontal lobe damage?!

TIA,

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 at psyctc.org> Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield <chris.evans at sheffield.ac.uk>
I do some consultation work for the University of Roehampton <chris.evans at roehampton.ac.uk> and other places
but <chris at psyctc.org> remains my main Email address.  I have a work web site at:
   https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/
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.

From: "Bill Dunlap" <williamwdunlap at gmail.com>
To: "Chris Evans" <chrishold at psyctc.org>
Cc: "R-help" <r-help at r-project.org>
Sent: Wednesday, 10 February, 2021 16:48:18
Subject: Re: [R] .Rprofile with devtools::install_github() loops

Installing a package involves running several R subprocesses, each of
which is running that .Rprofile.  You may be able to stop the infinite
recursion by setting an environment variable that subprocesses can
check.  E.g. replace
 install_github("xxx/yyy")
with
 if (Sys.getenv("INSTALLING_FROM_GITHUB", unset="no") == "no") {
   Sys.setenv(INSTALLING_FROM_GITHUB="yes")
   install_github("xxx/yyy")
 }

[This is totally untested.]

-Bill

On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 12:45 AM Chris Evans <chrishold at psyctc.org> wrote:

I am sure this must be documented somewhere and that I'm missing something
obvious but some searching isn't finding an answer and I'm sure there is one.

I have created a very simple package on GitHub and want my machines (other than
the one that built it) to load it when they start R using
devtools::install_github()

The install_github() call works fine from the console but when I put it in my
.Rprofile it just loops on restarting R.  I _think_ it may be that
devtools::install_github()
is restarting the session as I found one thing on the web suggesting that may be
the case.  However, I think if it were the case it would be documented and I'd
find
far more about that.

OK.  So my .Rprofile is:

print("This is a message from /home/chris/.Renviron: hello Chris!")
.First <- function(){
    devtools::install_github("xxxx/yyyy")
}
print("OK, off you go!")

I have obscured my package to protect my blushes but I get the same behaviour
with r-lib/devtools and, as I say, my little package loads OK from the console.

You can see I tried wrapping it in a .First() function but that didn't change
anything.

True both on a Linux machine and a Windows machine.

OK.  Anyone save me from more dents in the wall and frontal lobe damage?!

TIA,

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 at psyctc.org> Visiting Professor, University of Sheffield
<chris.evans at sheffield.ac.uk>
I do some consultation work for the University of Roehampton
<chris.evans at roehampton.ac.uk> and other places
but <chris at psyctc.org> remains my main Email address.  I have a work web site
at:
   https://www.psyctc.org/psyctc/
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.