[Zope] Zope and R

[Ragnar Beer]

Thanks a lot! RSPython seems to be the most likely candidate for my purposes. I actually don't need R's interactive features in this case. What I need is a Python script that accesses an SQL database, unpickles data that is stored in a blob, and then generates an image (a rather large GIF) with a predefined style or calculates a couple of coefficients.

Generating images seems to be the hardest part. How are you handling temporary files with more than one concurrent thread and possible security issues? I've never used temporary files so far.

Cheers,

Ragnar


> So, I (and another group, independently) have discussed integration,
> with the idea of having Zope be a WWW-front end for statistical
> analysis, both report generation as well as interactive style. 
> 
> There are pretty much 3 approaches that seem to work, and note that as
> is usual, coolness/slickness factor is inversely proportional to how
> well it works.
> 
> Version 1: treat R as batch.  This is ugly, and works (i.e. shell-out
> in CGI-style, constructing image files for the graphics and use
> LocalFS to read them back in.  
> 
> Version 2: Same, but use RSPython (www.omegahat.org) to embed R within
> Zope.  Eliminates the CGI scripting, but you still have either remote
> files and/or LocalFS stuff to deal with.  The first catch is that
> RSPython is borderline stable.  It doesn't recover from mistakes (like
> missing objects) very well.
> 
> Version 3: ZopeR/RZope.  It's under development, and basically adds an
> "RScript" object, as well as allowing Zope and R to read each others
> data (i.e. R to use ZODB for writing).  It's the coolest, least
> stable, and most vapor of the approaches.  It uses RSPython for
> integration. 
> 
> What I'd like to do is CMF-ify a stable ZopeR/RZope, for use with
> WWW-based instruction as well as "analysis deliverables" to stat
> consulting clients (and some labs I work with).
> 
> It's made interesting by the ease of retrieving/constructing
> bioinformatics datasets using things like KebasData and other
> "reformatters/fetchers". 
> 
> Timetable on #3 is probably "1-2 years after whenever funding
> appears", though there is a large commercial entity considering work
> on it in-house as a possible basis for an integrated enterprise-level
> (bio/clinical/medical) informatics system.
> 
> best,
> -tony
> 
> -- 
> A.J. Rossini				Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
> U. of Washington Biostatistics		rossini@u.washington.edu	
> FHCRC/SCHARP/HIV Vaccine Trials Net	rossini@scharp.org
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