Purpose of particular files?

[MMMcMahon]

Hi - I just discovered your template (thanks!),

What is the purpose of the following files? They result in issues with my (R package) build check:
link-check.js
package.json
package-lock.json

Do I need them? I understand the need for CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md, CONTRIBUTING.md and SECURITY.md (which also give warnings), but I see their value.

[EOGrady21]

To follow up on this issue... Is there a way to integrate CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md, SECURITY.md etc into a package? I am worried these warnings will result in a refusal from CRAN.

[MMMcMahon]

I don't think they're responding to the issues, but if you use the template, those files will be included. I think that the files I asked about (i.e. js/json) periodically check the links within the text of the SECURITY.md, CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md files to ensure they are still valid.

I think if you looked at those *md files, and hardcoded the links (removing any javascript, etc), you could remove the js/json files, and include the MD files into a CRAN package.

Hopefully you get a more informed response than me, but I haven't heard anything in several months.

[EOGrady21]

To your original question - I think the .json files are a way to capture which packages (with versions) were used to create the template. I have seen this structure used when trying to create a reproducible workflow without a package structure (with DESCRIPTION, etc)

https://nodejs.dev/learn/the-package-lock-json-file

So I don't think you would need these files if you are using the template to build an R package because they would become redundant.