this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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xkcd

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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/8677292


Transcript:

[A computer program.]

int getRandomNumber()
{
   return 4; // chosen by fair dice roll.
             // guaranteed to be random.
}

Hover Text:

RFC 1149.5 specifies 4 as the standard IEEE-vetted random number.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Just update the code once a year to a different number, given long enough time the output will have a perfectly flat distribution.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean, how many random numbers can there even be?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Not more than six, at least if you use a standard dice.