From d|pter|x@w@ng @end|ng |rom gm@||@com  Thu Jul  6 08:37:22 2023
From: d|pter|x@w@ng @end|ng |rom gm@||@com (Dipterix Wang)
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2023 02:37:22 -0400
Subject: [Rd] numeric_version doesn't like numeric versions anymore?
Message-ID: <674F4E4B-9A97-4185-A09B-A5E38CA6D2AC@gmail.com>

Dear R devs,

I installed the recent devel R to test a package error when I intercept this warning when loading packages:

```
Warning in .make_numeric_version(x, strict, .standard_regexps()$valid_numeric_version) :
  invalid non-character version specification 'x' (type: double)
```

After a long debugging, I realize that `numeric_version` in base does not support numerical input x by default now. 

A reproducible example: 

R 4.4

```
> numeric_version(1.5)
Warning in .make_numeric_version(x, strict, .standard_regexps()$valid_numeric_version) :
  invalid non-character version specification 'x' (type: double)
[1] ?1.5?
```


R 4.3.1

```
> numeric_version(1.5)
[1] ?1.5?
```

According to help document, `strict=TRUE` should result in errors, then the 4.3 behavior was actually incorrect. According to pkgload maintainer, Kurt has sent him an email to fix this, suggesting this on-going change is intentional.
 
May I ask is there any benefit of changing the behavior?

Thanks,
- D
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[Rd] numeric_version doesn't like numeric versions anymore?
Dipterix Wang