posit-dev / posit-dev/positron
Consider adding features around RTools for Windows integrated terminals
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- Dominant language
- TypeScript
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Description
RStudio does a lot of careful work to provide and use RTools on Windows, but Positron doesn't have any of that currently. This means, for example, that make is probably not available by default as outlined in https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/discussions/5326. This applies mostly to R package developers working on Windows.
For now, folks are on their own when it comes to RTools but let's consider adding features (like finding and/or prompting to install RTools) for a better Windows experience.
[!TIP]
As a workaround for folks in the meantime, see the official guidance on installing RTools and putting it on the path.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by reading RStudio's SessionBuildEnvironment.cpp reference and the linked official RTools guidance, then compare them with Positron's Windows integrated-terminal behavior. Done means defining a concrete approach for finding or prompting to install RTools and supporting the make workflow for R package developers.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- r, typescript
- Domain
- developer-experience, operating-systems, tooling
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100