Re: Managing R packages under Linux

On Fri, Oct 26, 2007 at 06:23:51PM -0400, Lance A. Brown wrote:
> I need to develop a way to manage the installation and update of R
> packages under linux (CentOS), hopefully using Puppet.  I've got most of
> 
> If there were a cran2rpm program, like PERL's cpan2rpm, life would be
> easy, but there doesn't seem to be such a beast.
> 
> What's the best way to handle this beast in Puppet?  I'd like to have
> Puppet automate updating packaging as well as make sure the ones I want
> are installed.
> 
> Ought I write an Rpackage type?

Lance,

If I were in your shoes I'd be investing my time in either creating one
or more RPM packages, if I thought those R packages in use were unlikely to 
change too often, or creating the hypothetical cran2rpm program.

Doubtless there will be people who disagree with me, but my point of view
is that there is already central package management for the system.
Adding another package management type only serves to increase the
administrative overhead.

I've never dealt with 'R' packages, but if they're simple text files
then building a cran2rpm script shouldn't be too difficult.  If they can
have dependencies on system libraries (as CPAN modules can) then
building the utility will be more difficult, but also even more useful,
as the package can specify the dependencies.

Regards,

-- 
Sam Bashton - Bashton Ltd, Manchester, England
Linux Consultancy / VOIP Telephony / High Availability Systems
www.bashton.com - 0161-424-9600

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