Register functions to be evaluated at the beginning or end of the R session

on_session_enter(fcn = NULL, append = TRUE, replace = FALSE)

on_session_exit(fcn = NULL, append = TRUE, replace = FALSE)

Arguments

fcn: A function or an R expression. The function must accept zero or more arguments (currently not used). If an expression, it will automatically we wrapped up in an anonymous function.
append: If TRUE (default), the function will be evaluated after previously registered ones, otherwise prepended.
replace: if TRUE, the function replaces any previously registered ones, otherwise it will be added (default).

Value

(invisible) the list of registered functions.

Details

These functions register one or more functions to be called when the current R session begins or ends. The functions are evaluated in a local environment and without exception handlers, which means that if one produces an error, then none of the succeeding functions will be called.

To list currently registered functions, use fcns <- on_session_enter() or fcns <- on_session_exit(). To remove all registered functions, use on_session_enter(replace = TRUE) or on_session_exit(replace = TRUE).

The on_session_enter() function works by recording all fcn:s in an internal list which will be evaluated via a custom .First() function created in the global environment. Any other .First() function on the search path, including a pre-existing .First() function in the global environment, is called at the end after registered functions have been called.

The on_session_exit() function works by recording all fcn:s in an internal list which will be evaluated via a custom function that is called when the global environment is garbage collected, which happens at the very end of the R shutdown process. Contrary to a .Last() function, which is not be called if quit(runLast = FALSE) is used, functions registered via on_session_exit() are always processed. Registered on_session_exit() functions are called after quit() saves any workspace image to file (./.RData), and after any .Last() has been called.

Examples

if (FALSE) { # \dontrun{
## Summarize interactive session upon termination
if (interactive()) {
  startup::on_session_exit(local({
    t0 <- Sys.time()
    function(...) {
      dt <- difftime(Sys.time(), t0, units = "auto")
      msg <- c(
        "Session summary:",
        sprintf(" * R version: %s", getRversion()),
        sprintf(" * Process ID: %d", Sys.getpid()),
        sprintf(" * Wall time: %.2f %s", dt, attr(dt, "units"))
      )
      msg <- paste(msg, collapse = "\n")
      message(msg)
    }
  }))
}
} # }