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rnaturalearth

ANALYTICS
Velocity0.0

Access Natural Earth map data for producing world maps in R

github.com/ropensci/rnaturalearth ↗

rnaturalearth finished its sp exit and is now optimising how the data actually arrives.

spatial-datanatural-earthsf-migrationgeopackagecaching
◆Current state
1.0.0 ended sp support outright, making sf the default and offering terra's SpatVector via `returnclass`, after 0.3.3 had signposted that with lifecycle badges. The two releases since move to delivery mechanics: 1.1.0 reads data directly out of the zip through the GDAL Virtual File System, starts moving unloaded downloads to GeoPackage instead of shapefile, and switches the base URL to naciscdn.org; 1.2.0 adds caching to `ne_download()` when `destdir` is persistent, swaps devtools for pak when installing the companion data packages, and handles Natural Earth's inconsistent raster zip layouts.
◆Where it's heading
With the class question settled, the work has shifted to not re-downloading and not unpacking — VFS reads, caching, and a container format that does not need a sidecar of four files. That points at the package being used in repeated or automated contexts rather than interactive one-offs. The shapefile-to-GeoPackage transition is explicitly incomplete.
◆Prediction
Completing the GeoPackage transition for `load = FALSE` downloads is the obvious next step, since 1.1.0 described it as in progress.

◆Recent moves

  1. 6mo ago

    rnaturalearth 1.2.0

    Adds caching to `ne_download()` for persistent `destdir` values, replaces devtools with pak for installing the companion data packages, and copes with Natural Earth's inconsistent raster archives. Practical friction removal for repeated use.

    View source ↗
  2. 1y ago

    rnaturalearth 1.1.0

    Reads data straight from the zip via the GDAL Virtual File System, begins the move from shapefile to GeoPackage for unloaded downloads, and updates the base URL to naciscdn.org. It removes the extraction step from the download path entirely.

    View source ↗
  3. 2y ago

    rnaturalearth 1.0.0 drops sp for sf and terra

    Ends sp support across `ne_countries()`, `ne_coastline()`, `ne_states()`, `ne_load()` and `ne_download()`, defaulting to sf with terra's SpatVector as the alternative. Breaking, but telegraphed in 0.3.3 and tracking rgdal's retirement rather than leading it.

    View source ↗
  4. 3y ago

    rnaturalearth 0.3.3 deprecates sp, imports terra

    Adds lifecycle badges warning that sp support will be dropped and pulls terra into Imports. The setup release for the 1.0.0 break.

    View source ↗