libc and random functions
| From: | Keryx Web | Date: | Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:20:42 +0000 |
| Subject: | libc and random functions | ||
| Groups: | php.internals | ||
| Request: | Send a blank email to internals+get-31057@lists.php.net to get a copy of this message | ||
I do not know if this post made it to the list a while ago. No one answered and i see I used the wrong account to send it. Please forgive me if this is a redundant re-post.
This is a suggestion I think would not be too hard to implement:
Skip libc for all random functions. As I see it there is no reason to keep it. I can't think of any application that would break if rand() would produce better random results at a higher speed.
So basically what I am saying is this: Implement the mersenne twister in the back of all random functions.
1. Make rand() an alias to mt_rand()
2. Make srand() an alias to mt_srand() (And since they are redundant give an E_STRICT?)
3. Make getrandmax() an alias to mt_getrandmax()
4. Have array_rand() implement MT in the back (if it is not doing so already)
Lars Gunther
P.S. For an introduction to who I am one might read:
http://www.webstandards.org/action/edutf/interviews/gunther-en/
and look at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keryxgunther/143376264/