Re: [PATCH] gnu: r: Update to 3.3.1.

[myglc2 <myglc2@gmail.com>]

Pjotr Prins <pjotr.public12@thebird.nl> writes:

> On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 01:49:00PM -0400, myglc2 wrote:
>> > I think what you're looking for in your hospital research lab is what
>> > Pjotr describes as a certain check-out of the Guix source tree.
>> 
>> But it is not simple to use. It is to technical an approach to appeal to
>> the medical researchers I have worked with.
>
> If it is that bad :) You have a choice of fixating the source (what I
> do) or the binaries (see below).
>
>> Guix has marvelous raw tools to do anything. The question is how to make
>> it simple enough for someone that is basically an R user to take
>> advantage of them.  The challenge in guix R packaging is to consider R
>> patterns of use and determine how guix packate R to support them in a
>> way that is accessible to typical R users.
>
> What you need is a 'managed' environment for your users. My suggestion
> is not to give guix daemon access to those users. Use Unix modules -
> which I have packaged - to point them to a prepared profile. When they
> want to use R, just make a profile. All modules do is set the PATHS,
> as Roel described. Technology older than the Linux kernel :/
>
> The 'manager' is the only one who will upgrade and test software to
> run. That way you can do controlled upgrades. You can even have
> multiple modules for different R's.

I imagine that, in the spirit of guix, we also want a user to be able to
"help themself" instead of depending on a 'manager.' This would probably
require an additional R "package manager component" that is usable by a
manager or user. Such a thing would certainly showcase the unique
capabilities of guix.

> You are lucky you can run Guix daemon on your servers.

Actually this is only fantasy at the moment, but I am hopeful.