Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 20:42:24 -0800 From: Kris Kennaway <kris@FreeBSD.ORG> To: Terry Lambert <tlambert@primenet.com> Cc: "Jacques A. Vidrine" <n@nectar.com>, Kris Kennaway <kris@FreeBSD.ORG>, arch@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: cvs commit: ports/astro/xglobe/files patch-random Message-ID: <20010226204224.A91585@citusc17.usc.edu> In-Reply-To: <200102270310.UAA09594@usr05.primenet.com>; from tlambert@primenet.com on Tue, Feb 27, 2001 at 03:10:31AM %2B0000 References: <20010226090108.C42108@spawn.nectar.com> <200102270310.UAA09594@usr05.primenet.com>
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--fdj2RfSjLxBAspz7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On Tue, Feb 27, 2001 at 03:10:31AM +0000, Terry Lambert wrote: > > > So if I run the same program, compiled on a Solaris box, and > > > compiled on a FreeBSD box, both linked against the platform > > > libc, I will get the same results from both machines, without > > > having to carry the random number generator code with my > > > program, over to the new platform? > >=20 > > Why do you expect this anyway? >=20 > I am a scientist. Repeatability of experiments is important. As as scientist, you naturally care about your PRNG giving good statistical randomness, so you don't get skewed results from your simulation. rand() does not appear to give statistically random output - in fact, visual inspection shows it to be patterned. As a good scientist, you did TEST the properties of your PRNG before using it as the foundation for your simulations, didn't you? By fixing the algorithm, we are preventing future generations of scientists from making the same mistake, and thereby ensuring that FreeBSD used as a research platform gives good science, not bad science. Our children and children's children will thank us! Onward, mighty FreeBSD, platform for the future!! Kris --fdj2RfSjLxBAspz7 Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Disposition: inline -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.4 (FreeBSD) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE6mzAwWry0BWjoQKURAmgQAKC8au9K6H82h6hr5yrDiDkYAPn8EACeNB4O N6tZsLTTtDTsJkz+ZfHZhoY= =mlzi -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --fdj2RfSjLxBAspz7-- To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-arch" in the body of the message
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