[R] Upgrade through the R interface?

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 3/31/2009 9:37 AM, stephen sefick wrote:
> Why can we not update R through a update.version() command from within
> R?  This may be my ignorance about how software distribution works,
> but I was interested.

Because nobody has contributed such a function.

There are a few tricky issues in writing it:  generally packages need 
updating as well if the X or Y in version X.Y.Z changes, and new updates 
for some may not be available.  As well, on some platforms, files can't 
be replaced while in use; e.g. on Windows, you'd probably need to shut 
down R before it could be replaced.

So I think it could be done on Windows and probably on other platforms 
too, but it would take a fair bit of work to implement.  You just need 
to find someone who has spare time on their hands to do it (or do it 
yourself, or hire someone, ....)

Duncan Murdoch