RStudio: Build and reload adds blank line to 'suggests' field in DESCRIPTION file

Question

whenever I run a Build & Reload from RStudio's Build pane, I get the message

==> Rcmd.exe INSTALL --no-multiarch rwiots    
Error: contains a blank line

and, indeed, when I look, my DESCRIPTION file contains a blank line in the Suggests field. If I delete this, it's created again when I try to Build & Reload.

I have the option Generate documentation with Roxygen ticked and all boxes ticked in the Configure... dialog that goes with it.

I really enjoy the workflow of documenting my functions with roxygen2 and having RStudio build my NAMESPACE file and parts of my DESCRIPTION file. So how can I get past this very odd little problem?

Many thanks in advance, Rob Levy

Answer 1

Hadley had the key:

If there's a Suggests: region in the DESCRIPTION file, but you're not suggesting anything, the Build & Reload functionality in RStudio adds a blank line, which then breaks the build process!