Updating R, R packages best practices

Question

What are best practices to updating R and packages, when you have a stable programming environment, to avoid "breaking" code/package functionality?

Should you download a new update of R or package when it's out? Or is a "if it isn't broken don't fix it" mentality preferred.

Thanks.

Answer 1

For your programming environment, update unless you have good reason not to, and maintain a good test suite for your in-house code. For projects with special needs, use renv to control versions of packages.

For your production environment, use the renv package to keep package versions locked down, and upgrade in a controlled manner if there is an explicit need.