Install packages or die function for R

install_packages_or_die.R

# This function attempts to install a provided list of packages.  
# If one of the requested installs fails, it throws an R Error.  By default

# This is a useful function to use in a Dockerfile or command line.  
# You can put run this at a command line with: 

R -e " \  
   install_packages_or_die <- function (pkgs, repos='http://cran.rstudio.com/') { \
       for (l in pkgs) {  install.packages(l, dependencies=TRUE, repos=repos); \
           if ( ! library(l, character.only=TRUE, logical.return=TRUE) ) { \
              stop ('ERROR: failed installing requested package \'',l,'\'') } } } ; \
       install_packages_or_die (pkgs= c('mime')); "
 
 # For Dockerfile, use:
 # RUN R -e "\ 

Inspired by an answer from this StackOverflow question