[R] How does one start R within Emacs/ESS with root privileges?

[Spencer Graves]

Under Vista and Windows 7, I install R in a local directory "pgms" so I 
never have to worry about permissions.


Under Linux, I use "su" not "sudo".  Then I call R and install.packages. 
  Then I quit R and "su" and continue with what I want.


hope this helps.
Spencer


On 9/7/2011 5:11 AM, Karl Brand wrote:
> Cheers Paul.
>
> Its a very good point. Although i am curious how badly i can damage my
> R install by running as root. I always ran R in windows with admin.
> privileges without problems (touch wood). Probably best to never find
> out by sticking with user privileges.
>
> However, even for taking care of R install/maint. i'd prefer to do
> this interactively within Emacs rather than the terminal. Motivated by
> this, i'd still like to find out how to invoke R with root privileges.
>
> I've also reposted the original email on perhaps a more appropriate
> forum at: ESS-help at stat.math.ethz.ch
>
> Karl
>
>
> On 2011-09-07 11:02, Paul Hiemstra wrote:
>>   On 09/07/2011 08:54 AM, Karl Brand wrote:
>>> Esteemed UseRs and DevelopeRs,
>>>
>>> Apologies if this question belongs else where, but it does concern R's
>>> package installation/maintenance.
>>>
>>> How does one start R within Emacs/ESS with root privileges?
>>>
>>> I tried without success:
>>>
>>>> M-x sudo R
>>>
>>> Why i'm motivated to do so:
>>>
>>> It seems logical to me, as the only user of the PC, to keep my R
>>> library consolidated in the universal library rather than splitting
>>> into universal and user libraries. Hence the desire to run R as root.
>>
>> Hi Karl,
>>
>> Why the need to install packages in root? As you are the only user there
>> is not reason to install them system wide (to make them available to all
>> users, which is just you). Installing the packages in your homedir
>> solves your problem much easier, without the need to run R as root
>> continuously. I think you should not run anything as root if it is not
>> absolutely needed, which could potentially damage your system
>> (accidentally overwriting something).
>>
>> hope this helps,
>> Paul
>>
>>>
>>> In addition, it's nice to be able to install packages 'on the fly'
>>> when and as needed and not need to launch a separate R session (as
>>> root) in the terminal just to install a package.
>>>
>>> Migrating from windows, i'm completey new to linux (ubuntu) and am
>>> seeing for myself if Emacs/ESS is as good as its purported to be. So
>>> maybe my motivation is nonsensical to expereinced ESS/R users. If so
>>> i'd really appreciate tips on efficient package
>>> installation/maintenance using Emacs/ESS.
>>>
>>> TIA,
>>>
>>> karl
>>>
>


-- 
Spencer Graves, PE, PhD
President and Chief Technology Officer
Structure Inspection and Monitoring, Inc.
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