quarto-dev / quarto-dev/quarto-cli
engine: should be respected globally at the _quarto.yml level
@gordonwoodhull is already working on this.
Since Dec 3, 2025.
- Dominant language
- JavaScript
- Stars
- 6k
- Forks
- 458
- Avg merge
- 1d 9h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 41
Description
Bug description
In the _quarto.yml file, setting engine: knitr or any variants (jupyter: python3, etc) should apply as the default for any files unless modified in the subsequent file's YAML.
On M1 Pro Mac running MacOS Monteray.
Using RStudio Version 2022.12.0-preview+303 (2022.12.0-preview+303)
Quarto v1.2.242
Reprex:
- Create a project
quarto create-project test-engine
- Set
engine: knitrin the_quarto.yml
project:
type: website
website:
title: "test-engine"
navbar:
left:
- href: index.qmd
text: Home
- about.qmd
format:
html:
theme: cosmo
css: styles.css
toc: true
engine: knitr #<- this is the change
- Change a chunk in the
index.qmdtopython:
```{python}
1+1
```
quarto render
The render of index.qmd is executed within a Jupyter kernel instead of knitr + reticulate even with the engine: knitr set at global/_quarto.yml level.
The correct behavior would be to use knitr since that is set at the global level.
Checklist
- Please include a minimal, fully reproducible example in a single .qmd file? Please provide the whole file rather than the snippet you believe is causing the issue.
- Please format your issue so it is easier for us to read the bug report.
- Please document the RStudio IDE version you're running (if applicable), by providing the value displayed in the "About RStudio" main menu dialog?
- Please document the operating system you're running. If on Linux, please provide the specific distribution.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Assessment
This issue has not been assessed yet.