Installing FFTW for RFIF

Introduction

RFIF can be built in two modes:

  1. FFTW mode, which uses FFTW for faster Fourier transforms.
  2. Fallback mode, which does not require FFTW and is intended for systems where FFTW is unavailable.

During installation, RFIF checks whether pkg-config can locate FFTW. If so, the package enables the FFTW-backed build. If not, the package falls back to the non-FFTW implementation. FFTW itself supports separate precision builds, including long-double builds enabled with --enable-long-double.

In the current RFIF build setup, the FFTW-enabled path uses pkg-config to discover FFTW and links the appropriate FFTW libraries when available. In the fallback path, the final link step omits FFTW libraries entirely.

This vignette shows how to install FFTW so that RFIF can use the faster path on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Before installing RFIF

It is useful to check whether FFTW is already visible to pkg-config:

pkg-config --exists fftw3l && echo found
pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

If these commands succeed, RFIF should generally detect FFTW during installation. If they fail, install FFTW and, if needed, update PKG_CONFIG_PATH.

You can also inspect the default pkg-config search path:

pkg-config --variable pc_path pkg-config

And you can search for the FFTW pkg-config file directly:

find /usr /usr/local /opt/local /opt/homebrew -name 'fftw3l.pc' 2>/dev/null

Windows

FFTW’s Windows installation notes continue to recommend a MinGW-style toolchain rather than a native Windows-specific package-manager workflow.

A common route is:

  1. install a GNU-style toolchain such as MSYS2/MinGW,
  2. build FFTW from source,
  3. ensure pkg-config can find fftw3l.pc.

After unpacking the FFTW source, a typical build is:

./configure --enable-long-double --enable-shared
make
make install

If the installation places fftw3l.pc outside the default pkg-config search path, set PKG_CONFIG_PATH. For example:

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/mingw64/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH

Then verify:

pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

If Windows installation proves cumbersome, RFIF can still be installed in fallback mode, described below. FFTW’s own Windows documentation remains centered on MinGW-style builds, so this is usually the most reliable route when FFTW speed is needed.

macOS

On macOS, the easiest installation path is usually Homebrew:

brew install fftw

After installation, check:

pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

If pkg-config still cannot find FFTW, inspect the search path and locate the .pc file:

pkg-config --variable pc_path pkg-config
find /opt/homebrew /usr/local /opt/local -name 'fftw3l.pc' 2>/dev/null

Typical macOS settings are:

For Apple Silicon Homebrew:

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="/opt/homebrew/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH"

For Intel Homebrew:

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="/usr/local/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH"

FFTW can also be built from source on macOS using the same standard Unix build steps:

./configure --enable-long-double --enable-shared
make
sudo make install

Linux

Debian and Ubuntu

Install FFTW development headers and pkg-config with:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libfftw3-dev pkg-config

Then verify:

pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

Fedora

Install:

sudo dnf install fftw-devel pkgconf-pkg-config

Then verify:

pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

Source builds on Linux

If your distribution packages are unavailable or unsuitable, build FFTW from source:

./configure --enable-long-double --enable-shared
make
sudo make install

If installed into a nonstandard prefix, update PKG_CONFIG_PATH. A common setting is:

export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/local/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH

Installing RFIF

Once FFTW is visible through pkg-config, install RFIF normally:

R CMD INSTALL RFIF

On a successful FFTW-enabled build, the configure step should report that FFTW was found, and the final link step should include FFTW libraries.

Forcing fallback mode

To test or use the non-FFTW build explicitly:

env PKG_CONFIG=false R CMD INSTALL --preclean --no-test-load ./RFIF

In the fallback path, the configure step should report that pkg-config is disabled and the final link step should omit FFTW libraries.

Fallback mode is useful when:

  • FFTW is not installed,
  • pkg-config cannot find FFTW,
  • or you want to confirm that the package still installs without FFTW.

Troubleshooting

pkg-config cannot find fftw3l

Check:

pkg-config --variable pc_path pkg-config
find /usr /usr/local /opt/local /opt/homebrew -name 'fftw3l.pc' 2>/dev/null

If fftw3l.pc exists but is outside the search path, export PKG_CONFIG_PATH to the containing directory.

Headers are found but linking fails

Check the exact flags returned by pkg-config:

pkg-config --cflags fftw3l
pkg-config --libs fftw3l

If headers and libraries come from different installation prefixes, installation may fail or pick up inconsistent flags.

Windows setup is difficult

Start with fallback mode first:

env PKG_CONFIG=false R CMD INSTALL --preclean --no-test-load ./RFIF

Then return to a MinGW/MSYS-based FFTW installation if you need the faster FFTW-backed path.

Verifying the result

You can capture the installation log for inspection.

Normal build:

R CMD INSTALL --preclean ./RFIF > normal.log 2>&1

Fallback build:

env PKG_CONFIG=false R CMD INSTALL --preclean --no-test-load ./RFIF > fallback_build.log 2>&1

In a normal build, the configure output should indicate that FFTW was found and the final link line should include FFTW libraries. In a fallback build, the configure output should indicate that fallback FFT is being used and the final link line should omit FFTW libraries.

Summary

RFIF supports both an FFTW-backed build and a fallback build.

  • On Windows, use a MinGW/MSYS-style source build of FFTW.
  • On macOS, brew install fftw is usually the simplest solution.
  • On Debian/Ubuntu, install libfftw3-dev and pkg-config.
  • On Fedora, install fftw-devel and pkgconf-pkg-config.
  • If FFTW is unavailable, RFIF can still build in fallback mode.