How to make Mac 64-bit version feature complete?
Stefan wrote:
And that's a very good reason why I prefer to have an easy way to launch 32-bit R.app: it keeps my MacBook Pro (which has only 6GB RAM) from locking up due to R using too much memory (of course, R will crash or abort the script, but I prefer this very much to not being able to work with the computer at all ...). (?) Yes, indeed: I find it very convenient to be able to choose whether I run 32-bit or 64-bit R.app (for the same reasons that have already been brought forward by others) and to run both flavours in parallel. (?) Also, Adam, can you please show us how to select 32-bit vs. 64-bit while launching R.app from the dock or through Quicksilver etc. (which is what I always do)?
I cannot, because there's no way I know. Your points are absolutely right, and since you find switching between R.app & R64.app convenient, it makes no sense to place any techie arguments against other users' habits. Altogether as long as "'memory.limit()' is Windows-specific" it indeed makes sense to keep users pinned by default to 32-bit, because a slip of the finger on extra 0 during matrix allocation probably can blow your Mac's memory :) Regards,
Adam Strzelecki