[R-pkg-devel] Including a jar file in a package

We are developing a package that makes a call out to a Java program.  We
have placed a jar file for this program in inst/java and it works
nicely.  However, when we run R CMD check, it results in a NOTE:

* checking installed package size ... NOTE
   installed size is 11.0Mb
   sub-directories of 1Mb or more:
     java  10.8Mb

Is it likely that CRAN would accept a package that includes a large
subdirectory like this?  If not, what is the recommended way to do
this?  The nice thing about our current solution is that the user of our
package does not need to separately install the Java program and deal
with Java's classpath.

Thanks for the advice.

Barbara

Duncan Murdoch <mailto:murdoch.duncan at gmail.com>
August 23, 2017 at 12:56 PM


It likely depends on the circumstances.  Did you write the Java code 
in the jar file?  If not, does any other CRAN package use the same jar 
file?  It doesn't really make sense for both of you to package it.

Assuming the jar file isn't already on CRAN, and it really is 
necessary for your package, and your package adds something to CRAN, 
they'll probably allow it.  You should include a comment with your 
submission explaining why you need the exception.

Duncan Murdoch
Barbara Lerner <mailto:blerner at mtholyoke.edu>
August 23, 2017 at 12:07 PM
We are developing a package that makes a call out to a Java program.  
We have placed a jar file for this program in inst/java and it works 
nicely.  However, when we run R CMD check, it results in a NOTE:

* checking installed package size ... NOTE
  installed size is 11.0Mb
  sub-directories of 1Mb or more:
    java  10.8Mb

Is it likely that CRAN would accept a package that includes a large 
subdirectory like this?  If not, what is the recommended way to do 
this?  The nice thing about our current solution is that the user of 
our package does not need to separately install the Java program and 
deal with Java's classpath.

Thanks for the advice.

Barbara