using renv on Arch Linux since 1.1.2 (sysreqs check)

[mark-andrews]

After updating renv to 1.1.2 on Arch Linux, I could no longer use it because the new sysreqs check was failing. For example

> renv::install('stringi')
The following package(s) will be installed:
- stringi [1.8.4]
These packages will be installed into "~/tmp/foo/renv/library/linux-arch-rolling/R-4.4/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu".

Do you want to proceed? [Y/n]: Y

Error in case(nzchar(Sys.which("dpkg")) ~ "deb", nzchar(Sys.which("rpm")) ~  : 
  don't know how to check sysreqs on this system
Traceback (most recent calls last):
4: renv::install("stringi")
3: renv_sysreqs_check(sysreqs, prompt = prompt)
2: case(nzchar(Sys.which("dpkg")) ~ "deb", nzchar(Sys.which("rpm")) ~ 
       "rpm", ~stop("don't know how to check sysreqs on this system"))
1: stop("don't know how to check sysreqs on this system")

And

> renv::sysreqs()
Finding R package dependencies ... Done!
Error in case(nzchar(Sys.which("dpkg")) ~ "deb", nzchar(Sys.which("rpm")) ~  : 
  don't know how to check sysreqs on this system

To workaround, I did

options(renv.config.sysreqs.check = FALSE)

and then seemingly everything was fine again.

Is that options setting my only or recommended option for use on Arch Linux?

[kevinushey]

Sorry, this was an oversight -- you can set that option as a workaround, but it shouldn't be necessary. I'll get this fixed up.

[mr-valente]

Experiencing the same issue! Will use the workaround @mark-andrews suggested until a fix is released.

EDIT: The workaround does not work for me, unfortunately. Thought I had it working for a second, but then it failed again.

[ginolhac]

@mr-valente {renv} restarts the session so the workaround needs to be applied every single time.
Just got the same and had to do it after each init/activate steps

[kevinushey]

@ginolhac you could place the option in your project's .Rprofile, e.g.

code <- '\noptions(renv.config.sysreqs.check = FALSE)'
cat(code, file = ".Rprofile", append = TRUE)

Or, alternatively, set it within your R installation's etc/Rprofile.site, or similar startup file.

[ginolhac]

Yes, sure but it will be fixed so I prefer to set up the option manually for now. It was to be sure that it was clear for the other user it needs to be activated

[kevinushey]

This should now be resolved with renv 1.1.3 on CRAN -- please let me know if you're still having trouble.

[ginolhac]

Nope! Works great thanks 🙏
I knew it was going to be fast 🤗