R function to avoid the repetitions in situations like `list(first = first, second = second, third = third)`

namedList.R

namedList <- function(...) {
    # Capture the variable names as symbols
    # and convert symbols to character names
    var_names <- as.character(as.list(substitute(list(...)))[-1])
    # Create a named list
    stats::setNames(mget(var_names, envir = parent.frame()), var_names)
}

### Usage example

#   first <- 1.3
#   second <- 20L
#   third <- "III"
#   
#   # Inspect the result
#   str( namedList(first, second, third) )
#   
#   #  List of 3
#   #   $ first : num 1.3
#   #   $ second: int 20
#   #   $ third : chr "III"
#
#   # Compare to plain list()
#   str( list(first, second, third) )
#
#   #  List of 3
#   #   $ : num 1.3
#   #   $ : int 20
#   #   $ : chr "III"