function for interrupting an R function execution if takes too long

interrupt.R

foo <- function() {
  
  time_limit <- 3
  
  setTimeLimit(cpu = time_limit, elapsed = time_limit, transient = TRUE)
  on.exit({
    setTimeLimit(cpu = Inf, elapsed = Inf, transient = FALSE)
  })
  
  tryCatch({
    Sys.sleep(3.5)
    print("done")
  }, error = function(e) {
    if (grepl("reached elapsed time limit|reached CPU time limit", e$message)) {
      print("interrupted")
      # we reached timeout, apply some alternative method or do something else
    } else {
      # error not related to timeout
      stop(e)
    }
  })
  
  
}

foo()