R macOS toolchain Evolution

As the years pass by, the R development toolchain for macOS changes. The goal of this post is to provide a summary of how the toolchain has evolved across the releases.

For help installing or removing the current toolchain, please see the guidelines set forth in:

• R Compiler Tools for Rcpp on macOS.
• Uninstalling the R Development Toolchain on macOS

Historical Release Pages

Alongside the version information, we’ve provided historical CRAN macOS R toolchain information by using the Wayback Machine with the date of the CRAN release and the usual macOS download URL location, e.g. 

Base URL Template

https://web.archive.org/web/{YYYYMMDD}/http://cran.r-project.org/bin/macosx/

These URLs will show the CRAN macOS download page as it appeared around the time each R version was released. The Wayback Machine may not have captured the page on the exact release date, so it will show the closest available snapshot. Some snapshots may not be available for all dates, particularly for older versions

R macOS Toolchain Requirements by Version

The toolchain has changed overtime with respect to the operating system, hardware, compiler, gfortran, and tool directory. Below is a summary of the toolchain requirements for each major R version series, starting from the latest version and going back to the earliest supported versions.

R 4.5.x Series (2025+)

R 4.5.1 - R 4.5.0

Version Links

• R 4.5.1 (2025-06-13) - Great Square Root
• R 4.5.0 (2025-04-11) - How About a Twenty-Six

Apple Silicon (arm64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 16.2 or higher
  
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 14.2 (universal package: gfortran-14.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/arm64

Intel (x86_64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 14.2 or higher
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 14.2 (universal package: gfortran-14.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/x86_64

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R 4.4.x Series (2024-2025)

R 4.4.3 - R 4.4.0

Version Links

• R 4.4.3 (2025-02-28) - Trophy Case
• R 4.4.2 (2024-10-31) - Pile of Leaves
• R 4.4.1 (2024-06-14) - Race for Your Life
• R 4.4.0 (2024-04-24) - Puppy Cup

Apple Silicon (arm64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 14.2/14.3
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 12.2 (universal package: gfortran-12.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/arm64

Intel (x86_64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 14.2/14.3
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 12.2 (universal package: gfortran-12.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/x86_64

---

R 4.3.x Series (2023-2024)

R 4.3.3 - R 4.3.0

Version Links

• R 4.3.3 (2024-02-29) - Angel Food Cake
• R 4.3.2 (2023-10-31) - Eye Holes
• R 4.3.1 (2023-06-16) - Beagle Scouts
• R 4.3.0 (2023-04-21) - Already Tomorrow

Apple Silicon (arm64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 14.2/14.3
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 12.2 (universal package: gfortran-12.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/arm64

Intel (x86_64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 14.2/14.3
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 12.2 (universal package: gfortran-12.2-universal.pkg)
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/x86_64

---

R 4.2.x Series (2022-2023)

R 4.2.3 - R 4.2.0

Version Links:

• R 4.2.3 (2023-03-15) - Shortstop Beagle
• R 4.2.2 (2022-10-31) - Innocent and Trusting
• R 4.2.1 (2022-06-23) - Funny-Looking Kid
• R 4.2.0 (2022-04-22) - Vigorous Calisthenics

Apple Silicon (arm64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 13.1
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: Experimental GNU Fortran 12 arm64 fork
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/arm64

Intel (x86_64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 12.4
• Minimum macOS: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 8.2
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local

---

R 4.1.x Series (2021-2022)

R 4.1.3 - R 4.1.0

Version Links

• R 4.1.3 (2022-03-10) - One Push-Up
• R 4.1.2 (2021-11-01) - Bird Hippie
• R 4.1.1 (2021-08-10) - Kick Things
• R 4.1.0 (2021-05-18) - Camp Pontanezen

Apple Silicon (arm64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 13.1
• Minimum macOS: macOS 11 (Big Sur) and higher
• gfortran: Experimental GNU Fortran 11 arm64 fork
• External Tool Directory: /opt/R/arm64

Intel (x86_64) Macs

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 12.4
• Minimum macOS: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 8.2
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local

---

R 4.0.x Series (2020-2021)

R 4.0.5 - R 4.0.0

Version Links

• R 4.0.5 (2021-03-31) - Shake and Throw
• R 4.0.4 (2021-02-15) - Lost Library Book
• R 4.0.3 (2020-10-10) - Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out
• R 4.0.2 (2020-06-22) - Taking Off Again
• R 4.0.1 (2020-06-06) - See Things Now
• R 4.0.0 (2020-04-24) - Arbor Day

Toolchain Requirements

R 4.0.5 - R 4.0.4

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 12.4
• Minimum macOS: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 8.2
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only (Apple Silicon not yet supported)

R 4.0.3 - R 4.0.0

• Xcode Version: Xcode CLI 10.1
• Minimum macOS: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and higher
• gfortran: gfortran 8.2
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only

---

R 3.6.x Series (2019-2020)

R 3.6.3 - R 3.6.0

Version Links

• R 3.6.3 (2020-02-29) - Holding the Windsock
• R 3.6.2 (2019-12-12) - Dark and Stormy Night
• R 3.6.1 (2019-07-05) - Action of the Toes
• R 3.6.0 (2019-04-26) - Planting of a Tree

Toolchain Requirements

• Compiler: clang7 with OS X SDK 10.11
• gfortran: gfortran 6.1 (official CRAN installer)
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only

---

R 3.5.x Series (2018-2019)

R 3.5.3 - R 3.5.0

Version Links

• R 3.5.3 (2019-03-11) - Great Truth
• R 3.5.2 (2018-12-20) - Eggshell Igloos
• R 3.5.1 (2018-07-02) - Feather Spray
• R 3.5.0 (2018-04-23) - Joy in Playing

Toolchain Requirements

• Compiler: clang6 with OS X SDK 10.11
• gfortran: gfortran 6.1 (official CRAN installer)
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only

---

R 3.4.x Series (2017-2018)

R 3.4.4 - R 3.4.0

Version Links

• R 3.4.4 (2018-03-15) - Someone to Lean On
• R 3.4.3 (2017-11-30) - Kite-Eating Tree
• R 3.4.2 (2017-09-28) - Short Summer
• R 3.4.1 (2017-06-30) - Single Candle
• R 3.4.0 (2017-04-21) - You Stupid Darkness

Toolchain Requirements

• Compiler: clang4 with OS X SDK 10.11
• gfortran: gfortran 6.1 (official CRAN installer)
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only

---

R 3.3.x and Earlier (2013-2017)

R 3.3.3 - R 3.0.0

Version Links

R 3.3.x:

• R 3.3.3 (2017-03-06) - Another Canoe
• R 3.3.2 (2016-10-31) - Sincere Pumpkin Patch
• R 3.3.1 (2016-06-21) - Bug in Your Hair
• R 3.3.0 (2016-05-03) - Supposedly Educational

R 3.2.x:

• R 3.2.5 (2016-04-11) - Very, Very Secure Dishes
• R 3.2.4 (2016-03-11) - Very Secure Dishes
• R 3.2.3 (2015-12-10) - Wooden Christmas-Tree
• R 3.2.2 (2015-08-14) - Fire Safety
• R 3.2.1 (2015-06-18) - World-Famous Astronaut
• R 3.2.0 (2015-04-16) - Full of Ingredients

R 3.1.x:

• R 3.1.3 (2015-03-09) - Smooth Sidewalk
• R 3.1.2 (2014-10-31) - Pumpkin Helmet
• R 3.1.1 (2014-07-10) - Sock it to Me
• R 3.1.0 (2014-04-10) - Spring Dance

R 3.0.x:

• R 3.0.3 (2014-03-06) - Warm Puppy
• R 3.0.2 (2013-09-25) - Frisbee Sailing
• R 3.0.1 (2013-05-16) - Good Sport
• R 3.0.0 (2013-04-03) - Masked Marvel

Toolchain Requirements:

• Compiler: Included Xcode CLI clang with OS X SDK 10.9
• gfortran: gfortran 4.8.2 (custom CRAN build)
• External Tool Directory: /usr/local
• Architecture: Intel only

---

R 2.x Series (2011-2013)

R 2.15.x - R 2.14.x

Version Links:

R 2.15.x:

• R 2.15.3 (2013-03-01) - Security Blanket
• R 2.15.2 (2012-10-26) - Trick or Treat
• R 2.15.1 (2012-06-22) - Roasted Marshmallows
• R 2.15.0 (2012-03-30) - Easter Beagle

R 2.14.x:

• R 2.14.2 (2012-02-29) - Gift-Getting Season
• R 2.14.1 (2011-12-22) - December Snowflakes
• R 2.14.0 (2011-10-31) - Great Pumpkin

Toolchain Requirements

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)

• Xcode Version: Xcode 3.2.3, 3.2.4, or 3.2.5
• gfortran: GNU Fortran 4.2.4 for Snow Leopard
  • Download: gfortran-42-5664.pkg (for Xcode 3.2.3 through 3.2.5)
  • Download: gfortran-42-5659.pkg (for Xcode 3.2.2)
  • Download: gfortran-42-5646.pkg (for Xcode 3.2 and 3.2.1)

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

• Xcode Version: Xcode 3.1.4 only
• gfortran: GNU Fortran 4.2.4 for Leopard
  • Download: gfortran-42-5577.pkg (for Xcode 3.1.4 only)

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and earlier

• Xcode Version: Xcode Development Tools 2.4.0 or higher
• gfortran: gfortran-4.2.3.dmg

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gfortran Binary Downloads

This section provides direct links to gfortran binaries for different macOS versions and architectures.

Current/Recent gfortran Binaries

Universal Binaries (Intel + Apple Silicon)

• gfortran 14.2 Universal (for R 4.5+): gfortran-14.2-universal.pkg (287MB)
• gfortran 12.2 Universal (for R 4.3-4.4): gfortran-12.2-universal.pkg (242MB)

Official R-macos GitHub Releases

• R-macos GNU Fortran releases - Complete collection of official CRAN gfortran builds

Architecture-Specific Binaries

Apple Silicon (arm64) Binaries

• gfortran 12.2 for macOS Ventura (13): gfortran-ARM-12.2-Ventura.dmg
• gfortran 11.3 for macOS Monterey (12): gfortran-ARM-11.3-Monterey.dmg
• gfortran 11.2 for macOS Big Sur (11): gfortran-ARM-11.2-BigSur.dmg

Intel (x86_64) Binaries

• gfortran 12.2 for macOS Ventura (13): gfortran-Intel-12.2-Ventura.dmg
• gfortran 11.3 for macOS Monterey (12): gfortran-Intel-11.3-Monterey.dmg
• gfortran 11.2 for macOS Big Sur (11): gfortran-Intel-11.2-BigSur.dmg

Legacy gfortran Binaries

gfortran 8.2 (for R 4.0-4.2 Intel builds)

• gfortran 8.2 for Mojave: Available from mac.r-project.org tools

gfortran 6.1 (for R 3.4-3.6)

• Official CRAN gfortran 6.1 installer: gfortran-6.1.pkg

Historical Apple Xcode gcc-42 add-ons (for R 2.x-3.3)

Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard):

• gfortran 4.2.4 for Xcode 3.2.3-3.2.5: gfortran-42-5664.pkg
• gfortran 4.2.4 for Xcode 3.2.2: gfortran-42-5659.pkg
• gfortran 4.2.4 for Xcode 3.2-3.2.1: gfortran-42-5646.pkg

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard): - gfortran 4.2.4 for Xcode 3.1.4: gfortran-42-5577.pkg

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and earlier: - gfortran 4.2.3: gfortran-4.2.3.dmg

Custom CRAN gfortran 4.8.2 (for R 3.0-3.3)

• gfortran 4.8.2 Darwin13: gfortran-4.8.2-darwin13.tar.bz2