[R] cron job install/update problems: tcltk can't find display (installing e.g., pbatR)

[Peter Dalgaard]

Paul Johnson <pauljohn32 at gmail.com> writes:

> On Fedora Core Linux 4, I have a cron job that causes R to update all
> packages and install new ones.  Lately, I notice in the log that some
> packages fail to install.  These are ones that assume X is running. 
> For example, the pbatR install requires tcltk to be loaded, and then
> the install fails because in a cron job, there is no DISPLAY
> environment.  I suppose the same happens if you try to install R
> packages in the console, without X running?
> 
> Error output is pasted here.  I wonder if you can advise me whether
> this is the kind of thing that can be fixed in the cron job or not. 
> I've verified that pbatR does install interactively (because tcltk
> does start).  If you think this is a pbatR-specific problem, i will
> contact the author directly.  When I have the repos option set, the
> interactive install does not cause any tcltk widgets to pop up, so I
> wonder if it is really necessary.

The procedure used by CRAN (e.g.) for the automated testing involves
running a virtual X server (Xvfb).

On FC4 you'll need to install the RPM xorg-x11-Xvfb-6.8.2-37.FC4.49.2,
start it as part of the cron job and point your DISPLAY variable at
it.


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