[M3devel] random.longint()?

[Tony Hosking]

I hesitate to slow down the default implementation of random by using LONGINT (slow) instead of INTEGER (fast).

On 15 May 2010, at 03:03, Jay K wrote:

> 
> In libm3 there is random number generation.
> In libm3 that is code that wants 8 random bytes.
>   If integer is 4 bytes, it calls random.integer() twice, else if it is 8, once.
> 
> It seems natural that we should provide random.longint()?
> 
> And then the other code can just use it?
> 
> Someone can look into the random number generator and
>  - make sure it is actually "correct" for 64bit integer?
>  - and if so, change the lowest level to use LONGINT
>    and layer integer over it? -- not sure how, presumably
>    taking only the lower 32bits loses too much randomness?
> 
> 
> This is what I get for looking into why we are ever asked to extract 0 bits..
> 
> "Everywhere I look, I see bugs." (topic of a separate mail)
> 
>  - Jay
> 
>