LÖVE

I have noticed that Löve uses the default pseudo-random number generator. I suggest that you in the next versions implement a proper random generation (avilable somewhere on lua.org). Also I suggest that you take a stand point and decide to either convert all Löve functions to radians or all lua functions to degrees (this can be done at loadup manually, but...).

Well, you are quite the suggestionist[1], aren't you?

You must have an average of two-three suggestions per day or something.

[1] Probably not a word.

I think we brought up the degrees-vs-radians in another thread. One thing that kinda bugs me is rotations seem to be clock wise for increasing degrees. For a mathematician this is a little "upside-down", but it's easily solvable with a - in front

I would like to know what is the difference with the "proper" random generator and the pseudo random generator... specifically, when is it not a pseudo random generator. Afaik, there exist only pseudo random generators on computers, because they are deterministic.

I think the conventional understanding is that a pseudo-random function will use a deterministic function to supply the same sequence of pseudo-random numbers every time it is reset, while a (non pseudo) random function will use a deterministic function with a changing seed (such as the current system time) to supply a different sequence of pseudo-random numbers each time it is reset.

As for radian and degrees, I think it unwise to change the behaviour of the standard lua math functions as people already accustomed to coding with lua/c/any-decent-language could easily be caught off guard.

May I humbly suggest that we implement the multiply-with-carry pseudo-random number generator? According to G. Marsaglia, it is better than Mersenne twister (current favorite) because it's fast AND provides better period. You can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiply-with-carry

I think the nerd factor of this forum just spiked. Discussing the random number generator we should use. That's pretty hardcore.

subrime wrote:I think the conventional understanding is that a pseudo-random function will use a deterministic function to supply the same sequence of pseudo-random numbers every time it is reset, while a (non pseudo) random function will use a deterministic function with a changing seed (such as the current system time) to supply a different sequence of pseudo-random numbers each time it is reset.

So we just need to add math.randomseed( os.time() ) at the beginning of each program?

mike wrote:I think the nerd factor of this forum just spiked. Discussing the random number generator we should use. That's pretty hardcore.

I concur!

Lua will remain 100% standard and will not be changed. We'll have to change LÖVE if we want to change anything.

u9_ wrote: So we just need to add math.randomseed( os.time() ) at the beginning of each program?

Yes, that's the idea.

Just a quick note - Lua's random number generator has problems with the first few numbers.

I suggest using at the beginning of a program to get rid of these "bad" values.