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automerge

Conflict-free data synchronization for R

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automerge brings Automerge CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) to R, enabling automatic merging of concurrent changes across distributed systems without conflicts. Work offline, collaborate in real-time, or sync across platforms—changes merge automatically.

Why Automerge?

Traditional approaches to distributed data either require a central server to coordinate changes or force developers to write complex conflict resolution logic. Automerge’s CRDT technology automatically merges concurrent changes with mathematical guarantees, eliminating the need for coordination and making distributed systems dramatically simpler.

Quick Example 

library(automerge)

# Two researchers working independently
alice <- am_create()
alice$experiment <- "trial_001"
alice$temperature <- 23.5
am_commit(alice, "Alice's data")

bob <- am_create()
bob$experiment <- "trial_002"
bob$humidity <- 65
am_commit(bob, "Bob's data")

# Later, sync with zero conflicts
am_sync(alice, bob)
alice
#> <Automerge Document>
#> Actor: e5f2557c243b2ced27187d9daa230154 
#> Root keys: 3 
#> Keys: experiment, humidity, temperature
bob
#> <Automerge Document>
#> Actor: af4c6407ae26f633c5f219ff9b014517 
#> Root keys: 3 
#> Keys: experiment, humidity, temperature

Key Features

  • Familiar R syntax: Work with CRDT documents like regular R lists
  • Rich data types: Maps, lists, text objects, counters, and timestamps
  • Collaborative text editing: Cursors and marks for rich text applications
  • Bidirectional sync: High-level am_sync() or low-level protocol access
  • Offline-first: Make changes offline, merge when connected
  • Cross-platform: Interoperates with JavaScript and other Automerge implementations
  • Zero dependencies: Only base R required at runtime

Installation 

install.packages("automerge")

Building from source requires Rust >= 1.80 (rustup.rs) and CMake >= 3.25 (included in Rtools43+ on Windows).

Documentation

External Resources

  • autosync - automerge-repo compatible R sync server
  • autoedit - Collaborative code editor widget for R and Shiny

License

MIT License. See LICENSE for details. This package includes the automerge-c library (also MIT licensed)