Introduction to building (better) R packages

R
The process of writing an R package can feel intimidating, especially if you haven’t done it before. But it doesn’t need to. By the end of this workshop, you will have made an R package!
Published

November 3, 2025

Abstract

There are many benefits to turning your R scripts or functions into a package, like making your code easier to re-use, easier to share with others, easier to document, and easier to test. But the process of writing a package can feel intimidating, especially if you haven’t done it before. But it doesn’t need to! In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss:

  • What things you need to make a package and how to create them
  • How to write functions (in a package-friendly way) and add them to a package
  • How to write documentation and examples for functions
  • Best practices for package development
  • How to share your package with other people
  • Useful resources

By the end of this workshop, you will have made an R package! The session aims to be introductory, so you don’t need any previous experience of building R packages (or even writing functions!) but some basic knowledge of R will be useful. If you’re already a seasoned R package developer, you’re also welcome to attend and hopefully you’ll still pick up a few package development tips!

Register here.