Packages
Packages in R Programming language are a set of R functions, compiled
code, and sample data. A package is a container of predefined functions, which
are often designed to be general enough to solve a certain range of prob-
lems.These are stored under a directory called “library” within the R envi-
ronment. By default, R installs a group of packages during installation. Once
we start the R console, only the default packages are available by default. Other
packages that are already installed need to be loaded explicitly to be utilized
by the R program that’s getting to use them. R is powerful not only because
of its rich source of packages, but also because of the well-maintained package
archive system called The Comprehensive R Archive Network, or CRAN.
Repositories: A repository is a place where packages are located and stored
so you can install R packages from it. Organizations and Developers have a
local repository, typically they are online and accessible to everyone. Some of
the most popular repositories for R packages are:
1. CRAN
2. Bioconductor
3. Github
14 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION TO R
1.5.1 Installing packages
How to Install Extra Packages for Windows Users in R:
In Windows you can use the Packages menu. You have several options, but
Install Package(s) is the one you will want most often. After you have selected
a local mirror site you are presented with a list of available binary packages
from which you can choose the ones you require (See the figure).
Once you have selected the packages you require, click OK at the bottom and
the packages will be downloaded and installed directly into R.
How to Install Extra Packages for Windows Users in R Studio: RStu-
dio also provides an easy way to install packages. Just go to the Packages pane
and click on Install. The following dialog appears:
1.5. PACKAGES 15
As the package description shows, a package may depend on other packages.
In other words, when you call a function in the package, the function also calls
some functions in other packages, which requires that you also install those
packages as well. Fortunately, install.packages() is smart enough to know the
dependency structure of the package to install and will install those packages
first.
You can see what packages are installed using the following command:
installed.packages()
1.5.2 Updating packages
By default, the install.packages() function installs the latest version of the
specified packages. Once they are installed, the package version stays fixed.
However, the packages may be updated to fix bugs or add new features. Some-
times, an updated version of a package may deprecate functions in older versions
with warnings. In these cases, we may update it.
RStudio provides an Update button next to Install in the package pane.
We can also use the following function and choose which packages are going to
be updated.
update.packages()
Both RStudio and the preceding function scan newer versions of packages
and install these packages along with dependencies if necessary.
