CODEWITHSUNDEEP
rcranr-package
user3825755
user3825755

Reputation: 953

Transferring maintainership of an R package on CRAN

I will be taking over the active development and maintaining of an R package on CRAN (of course with approval of the current maintainer). What are the necessary steps to make this happen / Should we proceed as follows?: (I assume only the current maintainer has the right to submit an updated version of the package, right?)

Will that turn me into the active maintainer of the package?

edit: To clarify, I currently not an author listed in the package.

Upvotes: 18

Views: 2603

Answers (3)

Naeem Khoshnevis
Naeem Khoshnevis

Reputation: 2472

As the previous maintainer, I recently transferred a package. Here are my notes for 2024:

  • I emailed the CRAN administrators to inform them of upcoming changes, although I later realized this was not required (so start from the next step).
  • The new maintainer should update the DESCRIPTION file with the following changes:
    • Roles: Move cre from the old maintainer to the new maintainer.
    • Maintainer name and email address.
    • Version number.
  • The new maintainer should also add a cran-comments.md file to document the transfer of the package.
  • The new maintainer should submit the package to CRAN using his/her email.
  • I, as the previous maintainer, will receive an email and should confirm the transition.
  • If there are any warnings or notes to address, they will be sent to the new maintainer, who should then fix and resubmit the package.
  • The package will then be uploaded to CRAN, and the transition will be concluded.

Upvotes: 3

Soren Havelund Welling
Soren Havelund Welling

Reputation: 1893

I just changed maintainer address, and followed procedure answered by @Benjamin. I was asked simply to submit first with new address in DESCRIPTION file and then afterwards admin contacted me on previous listed maintainer email and asked me to confirm the transfer.

So the process is

  • Submit first with new DESCRIPTION file
  • Confirm submission on new email-address
  • Answer confirmation-mail sent by admin to old email-address

Upvotes: 10

Benjamin
Benjamin

Reputation: 17279

Speaking from experience, before CRAN will accept an update with a different maintainer, they will want to receive an e-mail from the current maintainer explaining the intention to change maintainers. This e-mail must come from the e-mail account listed in the DESCRIPTION file.

After CRAN has received that e-mail, you may edit the DESCRIPTION file to change the maintainer name and contact information, then submit to CRAN. I would include an explanation of the change of maintainer in your submission notes, as well as a reference to the e-mail sent to CRAN.

Upvotes: 9

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