install.packages("methods") failed for R 3.0.1

Question

I try to install R package "methods" over R 3.0.1:

> install.packages("methods")
> Warning message:
package ‘methods’ is not available (for R version 3.0.1)

Is there any way to install 'methods' over R 3.0.1 or should I switch to R 3.0.0?

Thank you

Answer 1

methods is part of base R, you don't have to install it with install.packages, as it is already bundled with your R 3.0.1 installation.

You will see that loading the package will not provide any error :

library(methods)

But you don't even have to do that, as it is already loaded by default in your R session.

Answer 2

methods is a base package, along with the following packages

• base
• compiler
• datasets
• graphics
• grDevices
• grid
• methods
• parallel
• splines
• stats
• stats4
• tcltk

None of these packages are on CRAN, they only exist as part of base R. See also the R FAQ Section 5.1.1.