If all the world were a monorepo
4 days ago
- #R programming
- #software maintenance
- #CRAN
- The author initially struggled with learning R, finding it very different from other programming languages.
- CRAN, R's package manager, performs reverse dependency checks, requiring package updates to not break dependent packages.
- This approach, while burdensome for developers, ensures a smooth experience for end-users, particularly researchers and data scientists.
- The author compares CRAN's method to a monorepo mindset, emphasizing empathy and responsibility towards users' code.
- Experience at Databricks reinforced the value of centralized migrations and the monorepo mindset for successful updates.
- R's ecosystem, despite its quirks and inconsistencies, prioritizes user productivity and stability over rapid evolution.