[vtkusers] Using vtkpython with X11 on headless Mac OS X systems

[Sean McBride]

On 12/12/07 1:10 PM, W.T. Bridgman said:

>I'm trying to build vtkpython to run on some Macs in a cluster.  Mac  
>OS X 10.4.11, Python 2.4.4, VTK fairly recently from CVS.
>
>Using the guidance I've found on the list, I seem to have a partially  
>successful X11 build for vtk/vtkpython.  I can run the c sample  
>programs like Cone and have it display through the X11 window to  
>another Mac or linux machine, but the vtkpython programs fail with an  
>X11 error like allocating colors, etc.
>
>I'm thinking this may be because the default Tk on the Mac doesn't  
>have X11 installed.  Am I correct in assuming that the vtkpython  
>graphical components are piped through Tk?
>
>It appears that the TclTkAquaBI installation installs a Tk X11  
>framework for the Mac and I am thinking about installing that and  
>rebuilding VTK.
>
>Does anyone on the list have experience with this or can provide some  
>hint as to whether I'm on the right track?

Hi Tom,

I'm afraid I know nothing about X11, nor python, nor Tk.  :)  But, I do
maintain a few vtk dashboards and discovered that if the machine is
headless (ie with a video card, but with no monitor physically
connected) then VTK crashes all kinds.

You might want to try with a monitor to see if that changes anything. 
And maybe read this:
<http://lists.apple.com/archives/mac-opengl/2007/Dec/msg00007.html>

-- 
____________________________________________________________
Sean McBride, B. Eng                 sean at rogue-research.com
Rogue Research                        www.rogue-research.com 
Mac Software Developer              Montréal, Québec, Canada