[R] run R under unix

[Andrew Robinson]

Your Unix computer may also have "screen" installed.  This is a multiplexing 
terminal that allows you to place tasks in the background, log out of them, 
log back into them on different machines, maintain multiple command prompts, 
etc., all with minimal overhead - ideal for modems.

E.g. the following steps:

login
screen
R
source("mycode.R")
<start simulation>
Ctrl-a d
(screen is now detached; process is running in background)
exit

Then on a different machine

login
screen -r
(process is now running in foreground)
Ctrl-a d
(screen is now detached; process is running in background)
exit

You can create new screens, label them, obtain a menu, and use it to juggle 
numerous tasks - such as editing a source file and executing it efficiently.

Refinements: use source("mycode.R", echo=T) for information about the status 
of your simulation.  You can also easily write snippets of code to have the 
process email you when it's done, and run them via the "system" command. 
Locate "cat" commands judiciously through your code to update you on its 
progress.  

Andrew
-- 
Andrew Robinson                      Ph: 208 885 7115
Department of Forest Resources       Fa: 208 885 6226
University of Idaho                  E : andrewr at uidaho.edu
PO Box 441133                        W : http://www.uidaho.edu/~andrewr
Moscow ID 83843                      Or: http://www.biometrics.uidaho.edu
No statement above necessarily represents my employer's opinion.