R help - Dec 2000 - How do I track a segfault?

Dear R users,

I have to catch a nasty bug and would appreciate any advice or help!

I get a segfault (core dumped) that happens in one of my own functions.
The problem is, it
does not happen most of the time, only sometimes, so it's very hard to
reproduce. Or it may
run ok in interactive mode, but bug out in batch mode. Also, it tends to
happen more on
the slower of my 2 machines (PII 266), then I run it on the faster one
(PII 400) and it usually
works (but then bugs out there as well, at some other time)...

Once it starts to segfault, re-running my script typically doesn't help,
it does it over and over,
even though I start a new R process every time.

I found out that if I insert some cat()'s or print()'s in that function,
it typically goes through,
although I may have to insert several before it works, and it doesn't
help in every case. I don't
think sending in my function would be very helpful - it's actually
called from a few other functions,
and then again, it's not reproducable in any reliable way... (but I'll
be glad to send it if it's useful)
I've actually narrowed down where it happens in the function, looks like
it's at a call to sweep().
Of course, I can easily send the 'core' file...

The best thing for me would be some advice on how to track a problem
like this? What's the
best debugging tool and/or method I should use? Is there a tutorial on
debugging in R?
I read in FAQ that ESS is the way to go for debugging, but I am starting
to look at it , so it'll
be some time before I could do something intelligent. Would appreciate
any hints on how to
do debugging in it!


BTW, how do I use Up & Down keys for command history in XEmacs R mode? I
see in the
ESS buffer:

Making Process...Buf *R*, Proc R, Prog R
 Start File=nil, Args= --no-readline .

I guess I don't want --no-readline; how do I change it? (I have to admit
- having to use emacs
is no fun :-( so far)


Info that may help:
RedHat-6.2 on Intel (PII 266 and 400)
512M RAM
R 1.1.1 compiled from tar


Thank you

Aleksey

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>>>>> "AN" == Aleksey Naumov <naumov at
acsu.buffalo.edu> writes:
    AN> method I should use? Is there a tutorial on debugging in R?  I
    AN> read in FAQ that ESS is the way to go for debugging, but I am
    AN> starting to look at it , so it'll be some time before I could
    AN> do something intelligent. Would appreciate any hints on how to
    AN> do debugging in it!

Debugging R itself, or your code?

    AN> BTW, how do I use Up & Down keys for command history in XEmacs
    AN> R mode? I see in the ESS buffer:

ESC-p and ESC-n go up and down the command-line.  If you've already
got text on the command-line, it will match that text.

    AN> Making Process...Buf *R*, Proc R, Prog R Start File=nil, Args   
AN> --no-readline .

    AN> I guess I don't want --no-readline; how do I change it? 

You want it.  Trust me.  

ESS help is easier to find on the ESS-help mailing list.

Emacs is fun.  At least once you've used it for 15+ years.

best,
-tony

-- 
A.J. Rossini				Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
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