libc and random functions

From: 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/

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