How to not need user input for install.packages(type = "both")

Question

Normally, install.packages(..., type = "both") requires user input if there is a package that needs to be built from source.

For example (currently, with R 3.5.1), install.packages(c("feather", "tidyr"), type = "both")) will install tidyr from binary and feather from source, as long as there is a user to click "yes" when it gets to the feather install.

Is there a way to automatically click yes, or not require user input through some of the options to install.packages()?

Note: install.packages(..., type = "source") does not require user input, but it builds all packages, which is not the desirable behavior in this case.

Crassus

Are you doing this from the command line, or from RStudio? – Urtication

@Urtication I'm using R-studio, but this occurs in the standard R GUI as well. And I'm in need of the answer for an install through AppVeyor if that matters at all. – Crassus

Answer 1

The install.packages.compile.from.source option can be set to "always" to install packages from source without prompting for UI. The default is "interactive", which will prompt for user confirmation when using type="both".

Solution:

options(install.packages.compile.from.source = "always")
install.packages(c("feather","tidyr"), type = "both")

Crassus

Deleted my answer. This is much better. – Stanfill

Is the option setting valid for the live R session or we need to run it every time? – Jutta

Btw, I think it is options and not option: options(install.packages.compile.from.source = "always") – Jutta

@Jutta - it would be valid for the entire R session – Crassus