Coordinating r-base updates

[jdblischak]

There are lots of changes to be made to the r-base recipe. We need to decide which changes we make simultaneously and which we do in independent stages:

• Migrate to conda-build 3 Migrate to Jinja2 compiler syntax #47
• Update to R 3.5.1 (to be released on July 2) Version 3.5.1 #56, build r-base against 3.4.1 and 3.5.1 conda-forge-pinning-feedstock#107
• Re-arrange Windows R layout to be the same as Unix Re-arrange Windows R layout to be the same as Unix #43 Rebase on top of cf #57 Let's see how this goes. #61
• Support MRO compatibility Pending changes to defaults r-base packages #34 Let's see how this goes. #61
• Drop support for win-32 Rebuild for Python 3.7, GCC 7, R 3.5.1, openBLAS 0.3.2 #60 Let's see how this goes. #61
• Install {{native}}icu on Windows r-stringi and r-stringr R 3.5 win64 packages being pulled from defaults instead of conda-forge staged-recipes#6690 Let's see how this goes. #61

For me, the highest priority are the first two items. I propose we migrate to conda-build 3 and update to R 3.5.1 together as the next big change.

Re-arranging the Windows R layout to be the same as Unix is still a work-in-progress, and would involve updating the R package recipes to properly find the license files shipped with r-base. Thus I think this change should wait until after the big update to 3.5.1.

If we want to allow users to install Microsoft R Open from the defaults channel while also having access to non-R packages from conda-forge, we need to add r-mutex 1.* anacondar_1 as a run dependency. I don't use Microsoft R Open, and don't fully understand the consequences of adding this dependency, so we'll need someone willing to take charge on this.

conda-forge has dropped support for win-32 builds, and the r-base recipes has multiple patches for win-32, so at some point we should remove these if they are no longer relevant.

To get a sense of the changes that have taken place on the defaults r-base (it's currently at 3.5.0), check out PR #45.

[dhirschfeld]

I think 4. is the most crucial for compatibility with the defaults channels, assuming that means implementing the _r-mutex scheme they've adopted there. I also think 1. is very important for compatibility as well.

As a win-64 user I'm also fine with 5. and thought that policy had already been adopted.

[jdblischak]

I think 4. is the most crucial for compatibility with the defaults channels, assuming that means implementing the _r-mutex scheme they've adopted there.

@dhirschfeld Would you like to take charge on this effort? As you can see in #34, I have regularly checked in on that issue without much success. I don't have the first idea how to manipulate tarballs on Anaconda Cloud.

As a win-64 user I'm also fine with 5. and thought that policy had already been adopted.

The policy has been adopted, but that doesn't mean it's been executed. The r-base recipe has lots of patches that appear to be win-32 specific, so at some point someone needs to investigate to see which patches we can safely remove.

[dhirschfeld]

Unfortunately I doubt I'll have time this year to look at the problem. I'd love for it to Just Work and think it's a very serious problem but since I can work around/avoid it for now it's not on my critical path and I'm completely swamped with other work :/

[jdblischak]

R 3.5.1 has been released (release notes)

[jdblischak]

@bgruening In case it could be useful, I had created this Issue to track the various updates that have been discussed for r-base.

[jdblischak]

Another to-do when we get the chance: install {{native}}icu on Windows conda-forge/staged-recipes#6690

[jakirkham]

FYI the compiler rebuild and R update have reached r-base. This is a good time to determine which of these need to be addressed with that PR ( #60 ).

[jakirkham]

Now that PR ( #61 ) is in, would be good to update this list accordingly.

[jdblischak]

PR #61 implemented the following updates:

• Re-arrange Windows R layout to be the same as Unix (source line)
• Support MRO compatibility (source line)
• Install {{native}}icu on Windows (source line)

Both PR #60 and #61 edited the CI configuration files, so either or both of them succeeded in dropping support for win-32 because R 3.5.1 is no longer being uploaded to Anaconda Cloud. Strangely, although some of the win32 specific patches were deleted in PR #61, there are still 3 remaining:

• 0003-Win32-Do-not-link-static-libgcc.patch
• 0004-Win32-Extend-sqrt-NA_real_-hack-to-all-GCC-versions.patch
• 0005-Win32-Prevent-conversion-of-R_ARCH-to-abs-Windows-pa.patch

[jdblischak]

I've updated the checklist above, and also followed up on Issues #34 and conda-forge/staged-recipes#6690. Since it appears that all the issues have been addressed, I'm closing the issue.