Re:FastR: An implementation of the R language in Java [pdf]
by bedatadriven on Saturday November 16, 2013 @12:19PM
(#6745494)
I think compatibility with GNU R and CRAN is a pretty reasonable goal - even if it's not the focus of this particular Oracle research project.
We've been working hard and now systematically to get Renjin (also R on the JVM) to run CRAN packages: http://packages.renjin.org. Renjin also compiles C and Fortran code to JVM bytecode, though there is still some work to do there as well.
Regarding the hand-tuned matrix math libraries, there's nothing to stop you from using them with Renjin - you can drop in MKL or Atlas as desired, or fall back to pure-Java versions in a pinch.
We've been working hard and now systematically to get Renjin (also R on the JVM) to run CRAN packages: http://packages.renjin.org. Renjin also compiles C and Fortran code to JVM bytecode, though there is still some work to do there as well.
Regarding the hand-tuned matrix math libraries, there's nothing to stop you from using them with Renjin - you can drop in MKL or Atlas as desired, or fall back to pure-Java versions in a pinch.