Intro to R Packages with {usethis}
This short guide introduces the essentials of building your own R package using usethis and devtools.
It’s designed for R users who:
- Have experience writing scripts or functions
- Want to reuse and organize code more effectively
- Are new to writing packages
No prior knowledge of package internals, CRAN, or software engineering is required.
What You’ll Learn
- Why making your own package is worth it
- How to create a package project with
{usethis}
- Writing and documenting functions using roxygen2
- Including and documenting datasets
- Building, checking, and installing your package
- Optional steps for sharing and testing
How to Use This Guide
You can read it start to finish, or skip to the parts you need.
Each chapter is short and focused. Example code is runnable and ready to copy.
If you’re following along with your own package, open a new RStudio session now.
📽️ Workshop Slides
If you’re attending the live session or want a quick reference version, view the slides:
Start Here
Begin with Why Write an R Package?