R RSelenium rsDriver chrome browser error on Mac

Question

I am using a Mac (OS 10.13.6) and am trying to learn how to use RSelenium.

I have installed RSelenium but am having trouble with the rsDriver command:

rD <- rsDriver(browser="chrome",chromever="80.0.3987.106")

I get this error:

Could not open chrome browser.
Client error message:
Undefined error in httr call. httr output: Failed to connect to localhost port 4567: Connection refused
Check server log for further details.
Warning message:
In rsDriver(browser = "chrome", chromever = "80.0.3987.106") :
Could not determine server status.

I've been poking around for help for a couple of days now but am not clear on the appropriate solution here. I've tried the command with chromever="latest" and following the suggested workaround found here: stackoverflow.com/questions/55201226/ . Furthermore, I don't know where to find the "server log" mentioned in the error.

Having never used this package before, or done this type of thing, I can't tell if I just don't have things set up on my machine correctly (non-R requirements of RSelenium that I need to install and where), or whether this is strictly a chrome browser setting/verison issue, or generally mac compatibility issue.

Does anyone an updated (ie not involving the defunct checkForServer() command) set of steps (for absolute Selenium beginners) for getting RSelenium set up and rsDriver working on a mac?

Answer 1

After a lot of trials and errors, I managed to solve the same issue by installing Java SE Development Kit 14 on my Mac.

I hope this solves your issue.