[Rd] R, OSX, should creating SVGs request XQuartz

[Simon Urbanek]

On Aug 27, 2014, at 5:45 AM, Jonathon Love <jon at thon.cc> wrote:

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> hi,
> 
> on OS X, when you try and use something which depends on X11, and you
> don't have XQuartz installed, you receive an error message, it directs
> you to download XQuartz, and then it euthanizes your process.
> 
> (my guess is that there is a skeleton X11 dylib installed in OS X by
> default, and it is responsible for the error message and the
> euthanasia. once XQuartz is installed, the skeleton dylib is replaced
> with a functioning version)
> 
> in my application, i write SVGs using:
> 
> grDevices::svg( ... )
> 
> this provokes the X11 error message. i was wondering if this is an
> erroneous/unnecessary loading of X11, or if grDevices::svg() does in
> fact rely on X11 functions?
> 

It relies on a library that does: cairo
It doesn't actually call any X11 calls for the SVG backend, but since cairo also supports X11 back-end it has to link against X11. Apple chose to write the stub in such a way that it kicks in when you load X11 even if you don't actually call it.

The only way out would be to compile your own cairographics library and R with disabled X11 support.

Cheers,
Simon



> obviously, if i can avoid making my users install XQuartz if it isn't
> necessary (not to mention avoiding the abrupt euthanizing of my
> program), that would be ideal from my perspective.
> 
> with thanks
> 
> jonathon
> 
> 
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