[Rd] Downsized R configuration for flat deployment

[Simon Urbanek]

DM,

can you clarify somewhat what you are exactly concerned about? The standard build of R on Linux is relocatable without any special flags needed since R doesn't use absolute paths but manages library path to its components itself so it's very flexible (e.g., I use this feature to run R jobs on Hadoop clusters that don't have R installed as the directory where the job components are unpacked is dynamic). You can always disable whatever features you don't need. In your question I don't understand what you mean by "flat" - on Linux all binaries are flat by default so please clarify what you mean. It's easy to create completely dynamic R deployment - and easy to install packages - both binary and from sources.

Cheers,
Simon


> On Dec 21, 2019, at 8:39 AM, dmedri using gmail.com wrote:
> 
> Dear folks,
> 
> I'm testing a downsized R build - in features and obviously sizes -
> for a "modern" flat deployment (eg. like python virtualenv, just to
> name one).
> 
> Questions:
> 
> 1) Is flat style possible?
> 2) With this setup, R and packages can be installed/updated?
> 3) The directory can be easy renamed or moved?
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> I didn't find any official git repo, so I downloaded latest stable
> R release (3.6.2), exploring different setups of configure options. 
> 
> # tested in debian 10
> # $ sudo apt-get build-dep r-base
> 
> $ mkdir ~/r-virtual
> $ cd R-3.6.2/
> $ ./configure --prefix=/home/dmedri/r-virtual/ \
>            --exec-prefix=/home/dmedri/r-virtual/ \
>            --without-recommended-packages \
>            --without-cairo \
>            --without-libtiff \
>            --without-jpeglib \
>            --without-x \
>            --without-aqua \
>            --without-tcltk \
>            --disable-rpath
> 
> $ make && make install
> 
> This minimal R could run inside a container, no desktop just cli,
> with just one graphical formats in output (png). Java support was
> leaved in. I didn't find options to disable html docs. Recommended
> packages were leaved out, for a 2nd stage.
> 
> $ cd r-virtual/
> $ ./bin/R
> 
> The environment was there, "yes" to question 1).
> 
> I can install/update packages, obviously with required includes
> installed in the system, not fetched online -- a limit, looking at
> python pip, partially by design/choice. BTW answer to question 2)
> is "yes" for packages, "no" for the core.
> 
> Without the "--disable-rpath" option, abs paths break everything
> with the easy case of "renaming r-virtual directory". IMHO this option
> should be a general default, and another "yes" to question 3).
> 
> While I'm still investigating, tips are welcome... 
> 
> HTH
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> DM
> 
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