How to properly document S4 class slots using Roxygen2?

How to properly document S4 class slots using Roxygen2? 📝

Documenting S4 class slots using Roxygen2 can be a bit tricky, but fear not! In this guide, we'll address common issues and provide easy solutions for properly documenting your S4 class slots. Let's dive in! 💪

The Dilemma 😕

When it comes to documenting S4 class slots with Roxygen2, it's not as straightforward as documenting functions or methods. The @slot tag, mentioned in early descriptions of Roxygen, is no longer supported. So, what's the best practice for documenting S4 classes in Roxygen2? Let's find out! 🕵️‍♀️

The Solution 💡

Option A: Itemized List

One option is to use an itemized list with LaTeX markup. Here's an example:

#' The title for my S4 class that extends `"character"` class.
#'
#' Some details about this class and my plans for it in the body.
#'
#' \describe{
#'    \item{myslot1}{A logical keeping track of something.}
#'
#'    \item{myslot2}{An integer specifying something else.}
#' 
#'    \item{myslot3}{A data.frame holding some data.}
#'  }
#' @name mynewclass-class
#' @rdname mynewclass-class
#' @exportClass mynewclass
setClass("mynewclass",
    representation(myslot1="logical",
        myslot2="integer",
        myslot3="data.frame"),
    contains = "character"
)

This approach works, but it may seem inconsistent with the rest of Roxygen2, as there are no @-delimited tags. Additionally, slots could go undocumented without any objection from Roxygenize(). Furthermore, this method doesn't provide a consistent way to document inheritance.

Option B: Alternative @slot Tag (if available)

There have been mentions of an @slot tag, but it is no longer supported in Roxygen. However, if you're using an older version of Roxygen where it was included, you could try using it. Although it's not recommended due to lack of support, the example mentioned above does work with Roxygen2.

Option C: Alternative Tag, such as @param

Another possibility is to use an alternative tag, such as @param, to specify slots. However, this is not the standard way and may not be supported by all tools. Proceed with caution if you choose this option.

Time to Choose! ⚖️

To summarize, here are the three options you can consider for documenting S4 class slots in Roxygen2:

• Option A: Itemized list (as shown in the example above)

• Option B: Alternative @slot tag (if available in your version)

• Option C: Alternative tag, such as @param (with caution)

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and the compatibility with your version of Roxygen2. Remember to always test your documentation to ensure it is properly rendered!

Join the Conversation! 💬

Do you have any tips or tricks for documenting S4 class slots using Roxygen2? Share your insights in the comments below and let's help each other improve our documentation game! Happy coding! 🚀