Hello R-Admin community,
I am posting here seeking some experience about what it seems to be a pretty advance linux stuff for R community. I did not found much info on this for R users and admin.
In our server environment, we use a tool called Environment Module so that a user can modify its current bash environment to use some specific scientific tools. We use specificaly Lmod implementation (https://lmod.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) . We use module for creating environment for tools like Latex, Python, AMPL, XPRESS, or even base R with special .libPaths()
.
Integration with module is now supported in RStudio Server Pro, to load some module with specific R version. See https://docs.rstudio.com/ide/server-pro/r-versions.html#extended-r-version-definitions
This is useful, but this means to have a predefined set of R versions, using some modules, and that the Lmod tool is available to R ecosystem through the use of RStudio Product.
I am still trying to define what are the possible stategy regarding Modules and R integration.
I am interested to know if anyone have experience with any of this.
Can we use Lmod modules, from R to modify the R Sessions ?
From my tests, it does not seem possible. Calling system("module load my_module")
from inside a R process, does not actualized the environment of R. Not sure it is even possible.
one way currently to achieve this is to load module in ~/.bash_rc
to modify env just before R is launched. Even in Rprofile it seems too late.
Does anyone know a tool to help deals with modules in R ? Is this even possible ?
before digging in some tricky way, or creating a new tool, I would like to know what anyone thinks.
Regarding RStudio Server Pro Support, a new interesting feature would be to be able for a user as project options to configure which modules the user wants to load for a project. I don't know where is the best place to drop such Feature Request idea.
Thanks all - anyone which have any clue or experience regarding Modules (like Lmod) and R are more than welcome to chime in !