rdevguide/09-testing_pre_release_R_versions.Rmd at fc68dd41d0d24a00ab5e5af15c98dc580679b51c · r-devel/rdevguide · GitHub

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# Testing Pre-release R Versions

This chapter is inspired from the blog on [testing R before release](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/04/28/r-can-use-your-help-testing-r-before-release/index.html) and discusses how you can help with testing of pre-release versions of R.

## Where to test?

Whenever possible use a fresh package library for testing, even better would be to use [virtual machines](#VM) for the testing. This would ensure that you do not damage your existing R installation.

### Virtual machine {#VM}

A free Windows 10 virtual machine is provided by Microsoft (with a 90-day limit) for building, testing, and checking R packages and R itself. Package maintainers who work on Linux and MacOS can use it to test their packages on Windows. Read the [instructions](https://svn.r-project.org/R-dev-web/trunk/WindowsBuilds/winutf8/ucrt3/vm.html) on how to automatically set up the machine to check R packages. Tomas Kalibera describes the details of using virtual machine in the blog [Virtual Windows machine for checking R packages](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/03/18/virtual-windows-machine-for-checking-r-packages/index.html).

## What can you test?

You can test:

  * Your own programs.

  * Your own workflows.

  * Your special ways of installing or setting up R.

  * Things that interact with external libraries.

  * Interactive R packages.

Details of performing testing on various operating systems:

  * [Windows](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/04/28/r-can-use-your-help-testing-r-before-release/index.html#on-windows)

  * [macOS](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/04/28/r-can-use-your-help-testing-r-before-release/index.html#on-macos)

  * [Linux](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/04/28/r-can-use-your-help-testing-r-before-release/index.html#on-linux)

  * [Solaris](https://developer.r-project.org/Blog/public/2021/04/28/r-can-use-your-help-testing-r-before-release/index.html#on-solaris)