R help - Mar 2005 - Differences between package and library terminology

Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the library()
command ?

If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in the
right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only came
up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but this
still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package vs.
library.

Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.

Thank you

Regards, Adai

If you believe the fortunes package (or is it library) then your
answer is contained therein:

#59
Zhu Wang: I am trying to create a library which uses some Fortran
source files [...]

Douglas Bates: Someone named Martin Maechler will shortly be sending
you email regarding the distinction between 'library' and
'package'
:-)

Zhu Wang and Douglas Bates;NA;R-help;May 2004




> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-help-bounces at stat.math.ethz.ch
> [mailto:r-help-bounces at stat.math.ethz.ch]On Behalf Of Adaikalavan
> Ramasamy
> Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 8:43 AM
> To: R-help
> Subject: [R] Differences between package and library terminology
> 
> 
> Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
> package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the library()
> command ?
> 
> If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in the
> right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only came
> up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but this
> still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package vs.
> library.
> 
> Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Regards, Adai
> 
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide! 
> http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html

On Wed, 2005-03-02 at 13:42 +0000, Adaikalavan Ramasamy
wrote:
> Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
> package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the library()
> command ?
> 
> If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in the
> right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only came
> up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but this
> still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package vs.
> library.
> 
> Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Regards, Adai

There was actually just an exchange on this last month, which was
precipitated by a thread on r-help and then moved to r-devel. The r-
devel part, which is more relevant here, begins at:

https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-devel/2005-February/032095.html

HTH,

Marc Schwartz

look at this message

http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/devel/05/02/2148.html

and the thread it comes from for more info.

Best,
Dimitris

----
Dimitris Rizopoulos
Ph.D. Student
Biostatistical Centre
School of Public Health
Catholic University of Leuven

Address: Kapucijnenvoer 35, Leuven, Belgium
Tel: +32/16/336899
Fax: +32/16/337015
Web: http://www.med.kuleuven.ac.be/biostat/
     http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m0390867/dimitris.htm


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Adaikalavan Ramasamy" <ramasamy at cancer.org.uk>
To: "R-help" <r-help at stat.math.ethz.ch>
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 2:42 PM
Subject: [R] Differences between package and library terminology

> Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
> package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the 
> library()
> command ?
>
> If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in 
> the
> right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only 
> came
> up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but 
> this
> still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package 
> vs.
> library.
>
> Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.
>
> Thank you
>
> Regards, Adai
>
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide! 
> http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
>

Adaikalavan Ramasamy wrote:
> Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
> package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the library()
> command ?
> 
> If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in the
> right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only came
> up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but this
> still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package vs.
> library.
> 
> Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.
> 
> Thank you
> 
> Regards, Adai
> 
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide!
http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
It is answered in the FAQs (FAQ 5.2)!
Also, e.g., in the manual "R Installation and Administration" and in R
News 3(3), pp. 37-39: "R Help Desk: Package Management".

You use library() to load a package from a *library* containing *packages*.

Uwe Ligges

Thank you to Marc Schwartz, Dimitris Rizopoulos and Uwe Ligges.

The discussions in R-devel thread was helpful. I think it is the usage
library(package) that confuses new users to confuse the term packages
with libraries.

Thank you.

Regards, Adai



On Wed, 2005-03-02 at 08:20 -0600, Marc Schwartz wrote:
> On Wed, 2005-03-02 at 13:42 +0000, Adaikalavan Ramasamy wrote:
> > Just out of curiosity, what is the difference between the terms for
> > package and library ?  Why are we loading a package with the library()
> > command ?
> > 
> > If this is a case of RTFM, I would be happy to do so if pointed in the
> > right direction. I have searched the FAQ and mail archives and only
came
> > up with http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/05/02/12162.html but
this
> > still does not explain what is the requirement/features of a package
vs.
> > library.
> > 
> > Does this question not qualify to be included in the FAQs.
> > 
> > Thank you
> > 
> > Regards, Adai
> 
> 
> There was actually just an exchange on this last month, which was
> precipitated by a thread on r-help and then moved to r-devel. The r-
> devel part, which is more relevant here, begins at:
> 
> https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-devel/2005-February/032095.html
> 
> HTH,
> 
> Marc Schwartz
> 
> 
>