[R] Compiling R for OS X 10.2.6 (Darwin 6.6)

[feldesmanm@pdx.edu]

Our lab just picked up a G4 Powerbook (1 GHz, 1GB RAM, OS X 10.2.6).  None 
of us have any experience with Macs but for various reasons we need to have 
one around for development.

In any case, we've installed fink, all the Apple Developer Tools and the 
Dec2002updater to gcc 3.3.  We're now trying to compile R 1.7.1 without too 
much success.  First we had to get g77, which turned out to be a headache 
because the version on fink doesn't match the gcc version on the Powerbook 
and wouldn't install.  We reset the PB gcc version to default to gcc 3.1, 
which then allowed us to install the g77 patch.

In building R, the configure is fine (except for lacking pdf and dvi 
support to build the manuals - no big deal right now), but during the make, 
the program barfs, complaining that it can't find Rdynload.c, which sits 
precisely where it ought to be.  Again, since we have no experience with 
building software on the Mac, this one is tough to sort out.

I read a few messages on R-devel about issues involving g77 support, but I 
don't know whether this is the problem or not.  The errors are being 
emitted when the make is using gcc, which might be 3.1 or 3.3.  There 
doesn't seem to be any way to remove the "updater".

I'd appreciate any pointers from experienced Mac folks out there.  (BTW, I 
did find Jan de Leuew's binary of 1.7.1.  It installs fine in the meantime, 
but it would still be helpful to resolve the compilation problem as I 
expect we'll encounter other issues like this soon).

Thanks.




Dr. Marc R. Feldesman
Professor and Chairman Emeritus
Anthropology Department - Portland State University
email:  feldesmanm at pdx.edu
email:  feldesman at attglobal.net
fax:    503-725-3905


"Sometimes the lights are all shining on me, other times I can barely see,
lately it's occurred to me, what a long strange trip it's been..."  Jerry &
the boys