Random Number Update

[Henrik Nilsson]

Hi,

On 01/24/2017 07:45 PM, Sven Panne wrote:
> Whatever will be done, I think it would be good to keep the 'random'
> package alive, probably just by re-exporting one of the better RNGs,
> perhaps with a thin shim to keep the API identical. Yes, this would
> somehow "bless" one of the RNGs, but this is not important: The
> important thing is avoiding breakage in the ecosystem, keeping
> tutorials, books etc. valid. People who know what they are doing can
> easily pick the right RNG for their needs and/or quickly adapt their
> code, but I guess for lots of stuff having just *some* RNG under the
> traditional package name/module name is more than enough.

I couldn't agree more.

Good (pseudo) random number generators are very important, and the
effort people like Dominic and Carter have put in is deeply appreciated.
Thanks!

However, a simplistic generator is much better than code breakage and
no generator. Users who don't pose the question about what
generator is used under the hood are unlikely to be bitten very hard by
a simplistic one. But they would be bitten hard if there isn't any or if
the API changes.

I've used the present one for games and the like, and they work OK for
that. I've also used them in an implementation of Metropolis-Hastings 
(for Bayesian inference) (albeit not that much) and I at
least broadly got the results I expected.

Best,

/Henrik







This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee
and may contain confidential information. If you have received this
message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. 

Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this
message or in any attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the
author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the
University of Nottingham.

This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage your
computer system, you are advised to perform your own checks. Email
communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as
permitted by UK legislation.