R devel - Jul 2021 - Feature request: Change default library path on Windows

> So I would say that I still believe Microsoft doesn't give clear
> guidance for this.
Sure, there is some ambiguity on where MS would prefer these kinds of
files. But what is clear is that the current location USER/Documents
is causing a serious issue.

And while we can all understand frustration with Microsoft, Windows
users represent a major proportion of the R install base. So let's see
what we can do to help out those users. Changing the default location
to either USER/R or USER/AppData/Local/R would help a lot of users,
both beginners and those with moderate experience who switch to a new
cloud backup.

Microsoft is unlikely to put out new guidance any time soon. And the
current guidance doesn't seem opposed to putting R libraries in either
suggested location. So how about we just pick one (I suggest USER/R
for simplicity) and discuss how to go about making the change?

-Steve

Given (AFAICS) the absence of any actual R-core members 
<https://www.r-project.org/contributors.html> chiming into the 
discussion here, and provided that you think that the issue has been 
sufficiently discussed, I would say the next step ("how to go about 
making the change") is to compose & submit a wishlist request to the R 
bug tracker ...
   It might also be worth reaching out to/double-checking with Jeroen 
Ooms (Rtools maintainer and Windows infrastructure expert; I don't know 
if he has any more formal association with R-core/CRAN ?)

   cheers
    Ben Bolker


On 7/25/21 6:35 PM, Steve Haroz wrote:
>> So I would say that I still believe Microsoft doesn't give clear
>> guidance for this.
> 
> Sure, there is some ambiguity on where MS would prefer these kinds of
> files. But what is clear is that the current location USER/Documents
> is causing a serious issue.
> 
> And while we can all understand frustration with Microsoft, Windows
> users represent a major proportion of the R install base. So let's see
> what we can do to help out those users. Changing the default location
> to either USER/R or USER/AppData/Local/R would help a lot of users,
> both beginners and those with moderate experience who switch to a new
> cloud backup.
> 
> Microsoft is unlikely to put out new guidance any time soon. And the
> current guidance doesn't seem opposed to putting R libraries in either
> suggested location. So how about we just pick one (I suggest USER/R
> for simplicity) and discuss how to go about making the change?
> 
> -Steve
> 
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