On changing rand(3) to random(3) in awk(1)

[Chenguang Li]

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Peter Pentchev <roam at ringlet.net> wrote:

>> On Thu, Aug 28, 2014 at 10:17:55PM +0800, Chenguang Li wrote:
>> 
>> ... ...
>> [omitted]
>> 
>> Wait a minute, isn't LONG_MAX architecture-dependent? It's 9223372036854775807 
>> on my 64-bit FreeBSD box. The range of generated random numbers is explicitly 
>> documented. So I am afraid I should hard-code 2^32-1 in the file.
>
> ...
>
> I missed the *second* sentence of the random(3) manual page, didn't I.
> Specifically looked it over, looked for limits, checked the bottom for
> various sections that may document constants and stuff... and missed the
> second sentence.

That's totally fine. :)

> Of course you're right, it's documented as 2^32-1.  Though now I wonder
> whether stdlib.h shouldn't provide some kind of RANDOM_MAX constant for
> this purpose, instead of programs having to do their own hardcoding.

It would be nice to have it as a constant, as RAND_MAX for rand(3).

Chenguang Li

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