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title: Workshop description and agenda

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# Workshop description and agenda

## Workshop description

This workshop focuses on the most critical aspects of moving from standalone functions to an R package. It prioritizes hands-on experience while providing essential theoretical knowledge.

The workshop allows participants to:

- Understand the basics of R packages
- Learn the practical steps of creating a package
- Get hands-on experience in package development
- Provide best practices and references for self study

Given the time constraint, some topics have been condensed.

Be sure to have the following software tools installed:
- [R](https://www.r-project.org/) (preferably 4.0 or higher)
- [RStudio](https://posit.co/downloads/)
- R packages: [devtools](https://devtools.r-lib.org/), [roxygen2](https://roxygen2.r-lib.org/index.html), [usethis](https://usethis.r-lib.org/), [testthat](https://testthat.r-lib.org/), [pkgdown](https://pkgdown.r-lib.org/)

This workshop is part of the [B-Cubed](https://b-cubed.eu/) project's educational series. B-Cubed is standardising access to biodiversity data, empowering policymakers to proactively address the impacts of biodiversity change. GBIF is a key partner of the project. B-Cubed (Biodiversity Building Blocks for policy) receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (ID No 101059592).


## Agenda

### 1. Introduction (15 minutes)  
- Why packaging functions in R
- Brief overview of necessary tools: R, RStudio, devtools, roxygen2, testthat, pkgdown

### 2. R Package Essentials (20 minutes)
- Structure of an R package
- Key components: DESCRIPTION, NAMESPACE, R/, man/

### 3. Create Your First Package (40 minutes)
- Setting up a new package project in RStudio
- Update the DESCRIPTION file
- Moving functions into the package structure
- Writing documentation with roxygen2
- Using devtools functions: document(), check(), build(), install()
- Addressing common errors and warnings

### 4. Testing (20 minutes)
- Why test?
- Unit-tests with testthat and devtools function test()
- Key expectations
- Test file structure

### 5. Building a documentation website (10 minutes)
- Structure of a documentation website
- Use pkgdown package

### 6. Q&A and Best Practices (15 minutes)
- Resources for good package development
- Q&A arena

Total time: 2 hours
