Release data.table version 1.16.0

[MichaelChirico]

We are nearing our planned 6-month cadence for a non-patch release.

Filing this issue to track progress and as a call to flag issues for inclusion in / exclusion from the milestone:

https://github.com/Rdatatable/data.table/milestone/30

Let's see what we can finish by the end of June. Lots of goodies in the release already! Thanks for everyone's work :)

TODO

• include patch release NEWS to master for 1.15.{2,4}
• final pass over NEWS file for readability

[TysonStanley]

The list for 1.16.0 is still pretty large, are we wanting to get all of those included or is it time to move some to 1.17.0?

[tdhock]

the revdeps have been notified a long time ago so those issues should be ok

[tdhock]

probably the one that will block submission until resolved is the new R API compliance #6180

[MichaelChirico]

it's not clear they will block submission -- they are NOTEs after all. I am OK trying to submit after making some effort on all but SET_TRUELENGTH, this time around.

[TysonStanley]

@MichaelChirico sounds good, don't think they'll stop it either and can make it clear our intention over time.

[TysonStanley]

A little off topic but relevant for everyone working on data.table. I received this message today, it's a good reminder.

Today, I was working with data.table in R as I do almost daily. And I wanted to personally thank you and everyone involved in the creation and maintenance of data.table. Your work has been invaluable to me. You have all done an excellent job creating, maintaining, and improving the package. I know from experience that you seldom hear from anyone when things are working and outstanding; instead, only the complaints and notes that something doesn’t work. So, “Thank You!” And, as a side note, data.table (and R) was critical to completing my dissertation five years ago.

[MichaelChirico]

@jangorecki could you PTAL at your open PRs and flag which of those you're keen to have in the imminent release vs. are OK to let slip to 1.17.0?

[jangorecki]

It won't happen anytime soon, till end of the month I am without my workstation.

[MichaelChirico]

Thanks... are you OK to delay those PRs to 1.17.0 then, or should we delay the release until maybe end-August instead?