My proposalsu apt-get purge r-base r-base-dev exitwget https://cran.r-project.org/src/base/R-3/R-3.3.1.tar.gztar -zxvf R-3.3.1.tar.gzsu     apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev # otherwise, error: configure: error: libcurl >= 7.28.0 library and headers are required with support for https in ./configure./configuremake...Messages after ./configure are all ok without warnings/errors; here tailR is now configured for x86_64-pc-linux-gnu  Source directory:          .  Installation directory:    /usr/local  C compiler:                gcc -std=gnu99  -g -O2  Fortran 77 compiler:       gfortran  -g -O2  C++ compiler:              g++  -g -O2  C++11 compiler:            g++  -std=c++11 -g -O2  Fortran 90/95 compiler:    gfortran -g -O2  Obj-C compiler:           Interfaces supported:      X11  External libraries:        readline, curl  Additional capabilities:   PNG, JPEG, NLS  Options enabled:           shared BLAS, R profiling  Capabilities skipped:      TIFF, cairo, ICU  Options not enabled:       memory profiling  Recommended packages:      yesMy make however fails as root apparently because of my Open-JDK Java which I need for SPSS Statistics** help*** installing help indices** building package indices** testing if installed package can be loaded* DONE (mgcv)make[2]: Leaving directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/src/library/Recommended'make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/src/library/Recommended'make[1]: Entering directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/src/library'building/updating vignettes for package 'grid' ...building/updating vignettes for package 'parallel' ...building/updating vignettes for package 'utils' ...make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/src/library'make[1]: Entering directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1'configuring Java ...Java interpreter : /usr/bin/javaJava version     : 1.8.0_102Java home path   : /usr/lib/jvm/jre-8-oracle-x64Java compiler    : /usr/bin/javacJava headers gen.: /usr/bin/javahJava archive tool: /usr/bin/jartrying to compile and link a JNI program detected JNI cpp flags    : detected JNI linker flags : -L$(JAVA_HOME)/lib/amd64/server -ljvmmake[2]: Entering directory '/tmp/Rjavareconf.gPqbgX'gcc -std=gnu99 -I/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/include -DNDEBUG  -I/usr/local/include    -fpic  -g -O2  -c conftest.c -o conftest.oconftest.c:1:17: fatal error: jni.h: No such file or directory #include <jni.h>                 ^compilation terminated./home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1/etc/Makeconf:132: recipe for target 'conftest.o' failedmake[2]: *** [conftest.o] Error 1make[2]: Leaving directory '/tmp/Rjavareconf.gPqbgX'Unable to compile a JNI programJAVA_HOME        : /usr/lib/jvm/jre-8-oracle-x64Java library path: JNI cpp flags    : JNI linker flags : Updating Java configuration in /home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1Done.make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/masi/Downloads/R3.3/R-3.3.1'My final solution based on JdeBP's answer - successfullysuapt-get install -t jessie-backports r-base r-base-devOS: Debian 8.5 64 bitLinux kernel: 4.6 of backportsAsus Zenbook UX303UA   
How to install the latest R when this Java problem in Debian?
debian;java;r
Actually, the pages for the Debian r-base package (for example) are here:Jessie, R version 3.1.1-1Jessie backports, R version 3.3.1-1~bpo8Stretch, R version 3.3.1-1Add the jessie backports to your sources.list, and you can upgrade to R version 3.3.1, at least, with just APT.