[Coco] Is the RND command really generating a random number?

[Rietveld Rietveld]

I would be interested in knowing the logic behind the RND(x) command

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
  Original Message
From: Dave Philipsen
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 8:44 PM
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
Reply To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [Coco] Is the RND command really generating a random number?


Very few things in the computer world are truly random.  A better term
might be 'pseudo-random'.  Think about it.  In theory if you turn on two
identical CoCos at the same time and ask for a random number at the same
time they should both provide the same random number.  So, in reality,
it's not random.

Dave

On 5/18/2017 7:39 PM, Rietveld Rietveld wrote:
> I used the RND command to generate a random game play option in the cocoflash, but it doesn't seem to be very random. Some titles come up more than the laws of probability would suggest is possible.   instead I am now using a small math equation that uses a PEEK of the clock value.   This has resulted in a far more random looking selection
>
> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
>


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