# cffr

> Generate Citation File Format (cff) Metadata for R Packages

**Wikidata**: [Q120838154](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120838154)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cffr-q120838154

## Summary
**cffr** is an R package designed to generate **Citation File Format (CFF)** metadata for R packages. It is classified as **free software**, allowing users to freely run, study, modify, and distribute it. The tool provides a standardized method for authors to make their software citable.

## Key Facts
- **Function:** Generates Citation File Format (CFF) metadata specifically for R packages.
- **Software Class:** Instance of **free software**.
- **Source Repository:** Hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/ropensci/cffr`.
- **Documentation:** Official documentation is available at `https://docs.ropensci.org/cffr/`.
- **CRAN Entry:** Listed on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) under the project name `cffr`.
- **Initial Release:** Version **0.0.1** was released on **September 15, 2021**.
- **Latest Noted Release:** Version **0.4.0** was released on **November 18, 2022**.
- **Development Activity:** The software underwent multiple updates in 2021 and 2022, including versions 0.0.2, 0.1.0, 0.1.1, 0.2.0, 0.2.1, 0.2.2, 0.2.3, and 0.3.0.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the cffr package?
A: The primary purpose of cffr is to generate Citation File Format (CFF) metadata for R packages. This helps developers include standardized citation information within their software projects.

### Q: Is cffr free to use?
A: Yes, cffr is classified as free software. This means it is distributed under terms that allow users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and any modified versions.

### Q: Where can the source code for cffr be found?
A: The source code for cffr is maintained in a public repository on GitHub at `https://github.com/ropensci/cffr`.

## Why It Matters
The **cffr** package plays a crucial role in the open-source ecosystem by bridging the gap between R software development and academic citation standards. In the world of research software, proper attribution is often difficult to enforce because standard citation practices are typically designed for papers rather than code. By generating **Citation File Format (CFF)** metadata, cffr allows R package developers to embed machine-readable citation information directly into their projects.

This functionality is vital for ensuring that developers receive appropriate credit for their work, which is a fundamental principle of the **free software** movement. The tool automates a complex metadata process, ensuring that R packages adhere to standardized citation formats recognized by repositories and academic platforms. This contributes to the long-term reproducibility and discoverability of scientific software.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Utility:** It is specifically tailored to generate CFF metadata for the R programming language environment.
- **Open Source Compliance:** It is strictly classified as free software, adhering to the philosophy that users should have the freedom to study and modify the code.
- **R Ecosystem Integration:** It is an official project on **CRAN** (The Comprehensive R Archive Network) and is associated with the **rOpenSci** community (implied by the repository URL).
- **Rapid Development:** The project saw ten distinct version releases between September 2021 and November 2022, indicating active maintenance and feature expansion.

## Body

### Overview and Functionality
**cffr** is a tool utilized within the R programming environment to facilitate the creation of citation metadata. Its core function is to generate **Citation File Format (CFF)** files. These files provide a standardized way to cite software, ensuring that R packages can be easily referenced in academic and research contexts. The software is described as "free software," ensuring it can be freely run, studied, changed, and distributed by its users.

### Availability and Resources
The software is accessible through several key channels:
- **Source Code:** The development repository is located at `https://github.com/ropensci/cffr`.
- **Documentation:** Users can access detailed documentation and guides at `https://docs.ropensci.org/cffr/`.
- **Package Repository:** It is distributed via CRAN under the package name `cffr`.

### Version History
The development of cffr has been tracked through a series of releases starting in 2021. The following versions have been documented:

- **v0.0.1:** Released September 15, 2021.
- **v0.0.2:** Released November 2, 2021.
- **v0.1.0:** Released November 5, 2021.
- **v0.1.1:** Released November 11, 2021.
- **v0.2.0:** Released January 4, 2022.
- **v0.2.1:** Released January 16, 2022.
- **v0.2.2:** Released April 8, 2022.
- **v0.2.3:** Released August 22, 2022.
- **v0.3.0:** Released September 23, 2022.
- **v0.4.0:** Released November 18, 2022.

## References

1. [Release 0.0.1. 2021](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.0.1)
2. [Release 0.0.2. 2021](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.0.2)
3. [Release 0.1.0. 2021](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.1.0)
4. [Release 0.1.1. 2021](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.1.1)
5. [Release 0.2.0. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
6. [Release 0.2.1. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.2.1)
7. [Release 0.2.2. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.2.2)
8. [Release 0.2.3. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.2.3)
9. [Release 0.3.0. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.3.0)
10. [Release 0.4.0. 2022](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.4.0)
11. [Release 0.4.1. 2023](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.4.1)
12. [Release 0.5.0. 2023](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v0.5.0)
13. [Release 1.0.0. 2024](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.0.0)
14. [Release 1.0.1. 2024](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.0.1)
15. [Release 1.1.0. 2024](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.1.0)
16. [Release 1.1.1. 2024](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.1.1)
17. [Release 1.2.0. 2025](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
18. [Release 1.2.1. 2026](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.2.1)
19. [Release 1.3.0. 2026](https://github.com/ropensci/cffr/releases/tag/v1.3.0)
20. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/ropensci/cffr)