Table of content
Collection of skills for R package developers
Installation
npx claude-plugins install @posit-dev/posit-dev-skills/r-lib
Contents
Folders: cli, cran-extrachecks, lifecycle, testing-r-packages
Files: README.md
Documentation
Skills for R package developers working with the r-lib ecosystem and modern R package development workflows.
Available Skills
testing-r-packages
Best practices for writing R package tests using testthat version 3+. Use when writing or modifying tests for R packages, organizing test files and fixtures, creating snapshot tests, mocking external dependencies, or following BDD patterns with describe/it.
Organization: Uses progressive disclosure with reference files. Core workflows load automatically from SKILL.md, while specialized topics (BDD, snapshots, mocking, fixtures, advanced topics) load only when needed from the references/ directory.
Resources: This skill synthesizes guidance from:
- R Packages: Testing Basics
- R Packages: Testing Design
- R Packages: Testing Advanced
- testthat 3.0.0 release notes
- testthat 3.1 release notes
- testthat 3.2.0 release notes
- testthat 3.3.0 release notes
- testthat package documentation
cli
Comprehensive guidance for using the cli R package for command-line interface styling, semantic messaging, and user communication. Use when formatting console output with inline markup, displaying errors/warnings/messages with cli_abort()/cli_warn()/cli_inform(), showing progress indicators, creating semantic CLI elements, applying themes, handling pluralization, or working with ANSI strings and hyperlinks.
Organization: Uses progressive disclosure with reference files. Core workflows and inline markup patterns load from SKILL.md, while specialized topics (progress indicators, theming, advanced features, pluralization) load only when needed from the references/ directory.
Resources: This skill synthesizes guidance from:
- cli package documentation
- cli vignettes and function reference
cran-extrachecks
Prepare R packages for CRAN submission by checking for common ad-hoc requirements not caught by devtools::check(). Use when preparing a package for first CRAN release, preparing updates for resubmission, reviewing packages for CRAN compliance, or responding to CRAN reviewer feedback.
Organization: Single comprehensive SKILL.md file combining standard checklist with detailed guidance. Covers documentation requirements (@return, @examples), DESCRIPTION field standards (Title/Description formatting, quoting conventions), URL validation, suggested package handling, and administrative requirements (copyright holder, LICENSE year).
Resources: This skill synthesizes guidance from:
- DavisVaughan/extrachecks
usethis::use_release_issue()checklist- Common CRAN rejection reasons
lifecycle
Guidance for managing R package lifecycle according to tidyverse principles using the lifecycle package. Use when setting up lifecycle infrastructure in a package, deprecating functions or arguments, renaming functions/arguments, superseding functions, or marking functions as experimental.
Organization: The SKILL.md file provides step-by-step instructions for common lifecycle management tasks, while the references/ directory includes detailed reference materials on lifecycle stages.
Resources: This skill synthesizes guidance from:
- lifecycle package documentation
- lifecycle vignettes: “Stages”, “Communicate”, and “Manage”
- R Packages: Lifecycle
Potential Skills
This category could include skills for:
- Package development workflows (usethis, devtools)
- Documentation with roxygen2 and pkgdown
- Package structure and organization
- Dependencies and NAMESPACE management
- R CMD check and CRAN submission
- Continuous integration setup
- Version control workflows for packages
Contributing
See the main CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines on adding new skills to this category. We encourage you to use Anthropic’s skill-creator when building new skills.