calling r functions freezes Postgres 12 on Windows 10

[ralikwen]

I have freshly installed

• postgresql-12.5-1-windows-x64.exe
• R-3.6.0-win.exe

Downloaded and placed the files to their folders for

• plr-b479c024-pg12-R3.6.0-x64-Release.zip
• created a new empty database
• created plr extension
• ran checks
  Checked that [64-bit] C:\R\R-3.6.0 works in R-Studio
  SELECT public.plr_environ() - returns (R_HOME,"C:\R\R-3.6.0")
  SELECT public.plr_version() - returns 8.4

SELECT public.r_version() - never returns and completely freezes Postgres (must delete pid file to restart)

I am not sure what could I check or change.
Postgres log doesn't contain any useful info.

[jconway]

Sounds like postgres is blocked trying to load/read R.dll or something similar (blocked I/O). Could it be antivirus daemon or Windows Defender maybe? Try looking at the Windows logs (event viewer) for a clue maybe...

[ralikwen]

For some reason it is still using the old (R-3.3.1) R directory.
I couldn't find out how to change that but renaming the new (R-3.6.0) to the old solved the problem.
It's not ideal but works for now.

[jconway]

Maybe the value of R_HOME in the environment? Or PATH? We used to provide an INSTALL.txt that said (among other things):

Ensure the following environment variables are set prior to starting PostgreSQL:

PATH=<pgdir>\bin;<pgdir>\lib;<rdir>\bin\x64;$PATH
R_HOME=<rdir>

[davecramer]

we still provide installation instructions https://github.com/postgres-plr/plr/blob/master/userguide.md#installation