Installing rgl on a Mac with MRAN: A Troubleshooting Guide

Introduction

As a researcher working with statistical graphics in R, it’s often necessary to install additional packages that provide specialized functionality. One such package is rgl, which provides 3D graphics capabilities. However, when trying to install rgl on a Mac running macOS High Sierra or later, users have reported encountering errors related to the installation process. In this article, we’ll delve into the technical details behind these errors and explore possible solutions for installing rgl on a Mac with MRAN (MacPorts R).

Understanding the Issues

The primary error message encountered by users is:

platform.cpp:38:18: error: no member named 'x' in '_GLKVector3'
      *winX = result.x;
              ~~~~~~ ^
    platform.cpp:39:18: error: no member named 'y' in '_GLKVector3'
      *winY = result.y;
              ~~~~~~ ^
    platform.cpp:40:18: error: no member named 'z' in '_GLKVector3'
      *winZ = result.z;

This error message indicates that the compiler is unable to find a member function called x within the _GLKVector3 struct. This issue arises due to differences in how macOS High Sierra and later versions handle OpenGL functionality.

MRAN and rgl Installation

When using MRAN, it’s essential to understand how the package manager handles dependencies and compiler flags. By default, MRAN uses the XQuartz framework for rendering, which can lead to conflicts with other packages that use different frameworks.

The Microsoft page linked from the original question suggests that rgl does run with MRAN on a Mac, but this may not always be the case. In our investigation, we found that the issue is more related to how rgl is built and configured for macOS High Sierra and later versions.

Compiler Flags and STRICT_ANSI

One potential cause of the error lies in the compiler flags used during the build process. By default, MRAN sets the __STRICT_ANSI__ flag, which can lead to compatibility issues with other packages.

The rgl package typically doesn’t set this flag explicitly. However, as noted in the latest version of rgl (0.98.13), there is a fix implemented for platform.cpp that addresses this issue. This patch ensures that the necessary OpenGL functions are available on macOS High Sierra and later versions.

Getting the Latest Version of rgl

To resolve the installation issues, we recommend obtaining the latest version of rgl from R-forge (0.98.13). This version includes the necessary patches to ensure compatibility with MRAN on Macs.

While CRAN offers a wide range of packages for R, it appears that rgl is not currently available on this platform. By using R-forge or other alternative repositories, you can access the latest versions of rgl and avoid compatibility issues.

Conclusion

Installing rgl on a Mac with MRAN requires attention to detail when navigating the complex world of compiler flags and package dependencies. By understanding the technical details behind these errors and taking steps to resolve them, users can successfully install this essential package for statistical graphics in R.

In conclusion, we hope that this detailed guide has provided you with the necessary information to overcome the installation issues related to rgl on a Mac running macOS High Sierra or later.

Last modified on 2025-02-08