[R-SIG-Mac] multiple R versions in a multi-user environment

[Simon Urbanek]

On Aug 27, 2009, at 14:13 , Bill Knebel wrote:

> We run R in a multiuser environment (Mac OSx Leopard Server  
> utilizing R+ESS over an ssh connection) that requires us to keep  
> multiple versions of R (R-2.7.2 and higher) available on the same  
> machine.   I have successfully installed multiple R versions using  
> the binaries for Mac OSX  and deleting the relevant Receipt before  
> installing the newer version of R.  My problem occurs when allowing  
> individuals to run different versions of R. I would like to be able  
> to allow users to run any verison that is currently installed.  The  
> Rswitch gui works nicely if I want to make a global switch (for all  
> individuals) from one version of R to another.  The Mac OSx FAQ  
> recommends not to hardcode the shell scripts to start R to a  
> specific version (FAQ 12.15). Am I better off building R from source  
> for each version we need and bypassing the Frameworks approach for R  
> used by the binaries or is the a "safe" approach to use the binaries  
> and utilize hardcoded shell scripts to point to a given version of  
> R?  (I have created some shell scripts (hacked from those provided)  
> that allows me to start either R-2.6.1 or R-2.7.2 but the Mac OSX R  
> FAQ recommends against this approach.)


The FAQ clearly describes the issues so you're free to use it if those  
don't apply to your setup or they are not critical to you. The whole  
point of the FAQ entry is so you can make an informed decision about  
whether it's ok for you to use it that way or not.

Cheers,
Simon


> If there is somewhere else I should be reading, I would appreciate a  
> pointer and I would be happy to review.
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Bill
>
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