[R-SIG-Mac] XQuartz launches during R CMD check? (Prof Brian Ripley)

[Carl Witthoft]

Thanks for the multiple suggestions.  Annoyingly, despite my originally 
being able to reproduce the sequence 1)quit XQuartz 2)observe Finder 
window problems,  the issue now no longer occurs.  That makes my concern 
about XQuartz launching moot.
Carl


On 6/22/25 4:16 PM, r-sig-mac-request using r-project.org wrote:

>     1.  XQuartz launches during R CMD check? (Carl Witthoft)
>     2. Re:  XQuartz launches during R CMD check? (Duncan Murdoch)
>     3. Re:  XQuartz launches during R CMD check? (Prof Brian Ripley)
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 

> 
> Hi,
> I'm running into some MacOS - Sequoia problems with XQuartz, and it
> occurred to me to ask whether it's actually needed for successful
> completion of the command
> 
>   >> R CMD check --as-cran [packagename]
> 
> That command at some point causes XQuartz to launch -- at least on my
> system -- so now I'm wondering if that is normal?
> 

[Ripley reply, condensed]

I use RGL_USE_NULL=true in the environment.
 >
 > I don't know of other examples, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are
 > some.

The most common user of X11 is package tcltk (with the Tcl/TK
distribution which is part of the binary R distribution).

I don't see why launching XQuartz is of itself a problem: it will sit in
the doc and only Tk widgets and X11 windows will be visible as part of
'check'.  If that is annoying (and it can be when they grab focus), you
could use a virtual X11 server: I normally use something like

Xvfb -screen 0 1280x1024x24 -ac :5 &

and the set DISPLAY=:5 when running 'check'.

-- 
Carl Witthoft
personal: carl using witthoft.com
The Witthoft Group, Consulting
https://witthoftgroup.weebly.com/