[R-pkg-devel] installing packages from github

Disclaimer: I built install-github.me. More below.

On Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 3:22 PM, Berry Boessenkool

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I had never seen this before (probably just missed it) and install-github.me only shows "coming soon".

So I wonder:

- is this safe to use and platform compatible?

I am not sure what you mean by safe. It is just the collated R files
of https://github.com/r-lib/remotes, you can also read the code if you
are concerned: https://install-github.me/MangoTheCat/goodpractice

It should work on all platforms, please report bugs if it fails for you.

- why isn't it more common?

I can't fully answer that, but at least partly because I am not
promoting it, and the r-lib team is not promoting it, either.
I believe that this is because we don't have consensus on whether it
is a good idea to teach people to source "random" code from the web.

- are there yet better alternatives?

Better in what way?

- do I miss something obvious?

I don't think so. :)

Best,
Gabor

Thanks ahead for thoughts and opinions,

Berry

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