[kepler-dev] [Bug 2134] New: - More advanced integration with R

[bugzilla-daemon at ecoinformatics.org]

http://bugzilla.ecoinformatics.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2134

           Summary: More advanced integration with R
           Product: Kepler
           Version: 1.0.0beta2
          Platform: Other
        OS/Version: other
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: general
        AssignedTo: berkley at nceas.ucsb.edu
        ReportedBy: higgins at nceas.ucsb.edu
         QAContact: kepler-dev at ecoinformatics.org


The RExpression actor provides a basic, easy-to-use interface between Kepler and
R. It does not, however, handle all R datatypes. (It does allow number, string,
array, and dataframe inputs and all of these but dataframe outputs.) It also
depends on starting up a new instance of R each time it is called. And the
conversions are all string-based, which is inefficient.

There may be the need for a more complete implementation of an R actor, perhaps
using a remote R server, that would remain running, and carry out Kepler/R and
R/Kepler conversions more efficiently.

Similarly, R graphics is integrated into Kepler via image files (jpegs). A more
direct method for getting R graphics into Kepler would be useful.