Ask for opinion: changing rand(3) to random(3) in awk(1)

[Chenguang Li]

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Hi guys,

After encountering the same problem posted here[1] (awk's rand() not "random" enough), I did some research. It[2] shows that awk(1) in OSX is currently using random(3) instead of rand(3), the same in gawk(1).

Changing rand(3) to random(3) only requires modifying a few lines of code, but will result in better random number generation.

So why not? :)

[1] https://forums.freebsd.org/viewtopic.php?&t=6456
[2] http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/awk/awk-18/src/run.c

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Chenguang Li

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