====== R-Project ======


===== Installation =====

The R-project offers several installation possibilities for Ubuntu.

  * Oddly, the Synaptic package manager shows sections for ''GNU R statistical system (universe)'' and ''GNU R statistical system (multiverse)'', where many extensions are available, but the r-base packages are in the ''Mathematics (universe)'' section. The package ''r-base-dev'' needed for compiling contributed packages not available compiled in ''cran'' is in the ''Development (universe)'' section.
  * ''cran'' has a [[http://cran.r-project.org/bin/linux/ubuntu/README|UBUNTU PACKAGES FOR R]] README page. It recommends using 
    * ''sudo apt-get install r-base'' for the basic application, or 
    * ''sudo apt-get install r-base-dev'' to install the extensible basic application
    *  , after adding an authorized path to a repository in your /etc/apt/sources.list file, such as
    * ''%%deb http://<my.favorite.cran.mirror>/bin/linux/ubuntu maverick/%%'' or ...
    * replacing ''<my.favorite.cran.mirror>'' by the actual URL of your favorite CRAN mirror. See [[http://cran.r-project.org/mirrors.html|]] for the list of CRAN mirrors.


Unfortunately, the packages available for Maverick are over a year old : ''R version 2.11.1 (2010-05-31)''

My chosen alternative was to download the current version from 
[[http://www.r-project.org/|]] having chosen a nearby mirror from [[http://cran.r-roject.org/mirrors.html|]]. I then **did not** choose the __Download R for Linux__ from the Download and Install R box, but the __download source code for all platforms__ Current release from the second box.

The next step is to build and install it. The instructions for this are not placed where they are obviously easy to find. I found them by following the "Manuals" link on the home page, then the link to either html or pdf for **"R Installation and Administration."** Briefly, the build is //classic//:

  - untar the archive somewhere, like ''/usr/local/src''
  - ''./configure'' : to prepare the make configuration. In my case, I had to install a Fortran compiler before building.
  - ''make''
  - ''make check''
  - various other makes, for the documentation and installation of a symlink. ((more on the installation of the symlink when I figure out how to fix mine; I already had one from the apt-get installation and it still works, launching 2.11 by default.))

 Updates