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

[Rietveld Rietveld]

Your idea sounds good as it could use the number of menu lines as its upper limit

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
  Original Message
From: Dave Philipsen
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 9:05 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?


One way to generate a fairly 'random' number (if you only need a few
once in awhile) is to create a counter that counts up to a preset value
and then resets continually while looking for a human input. Make your
program request human input.  As soon as the human input is received,
record the value of the counter.  The human input could be a keypress on
a keyboard or the movement of a joystick, etc.  We, as humans, are much
more random than a computer.

Dave


On 5/18/2017 7:47 PM, Rietveld Rietveld wrote:
> I am not sure how the command itself generates the 'random' number?
>
> 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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