> Hi, man ksh says:
>
> RANDOM A random number generator. Every time RANDOM is referenced,
> it is assigned the next random number in the range 0-32767.
> By default, arc4random(3) is used to produce values. If the
> variable RANDOM is assigned a value, the value is used as the
> seed to srand(3) and subsequent references of RANDOM will use
> rand(3) to produce values, resulting in a predictable
> sequence.
>
> however, man srand says:
>
> To satisfy portable code, srand() may be called to initialize the
> subsystem. In OpenBSD the seed variable is ignored, and strong random
> number results will be provided from arc4random(3). In other systems,
> the seed variable primes a simplistic deterministic algorithm.
>
> If the standardized behavior is required srand_deterministic() can be
> substituted for srand(), then subsequent rand() calls will return results
> using the deterministic algorithm.
>
And the part you missed from the ksh source code:
static void
setspec(struct tbl *vp)
{
...
case V_RANDOM:
vp->flag &= ~SPECIAL;
srand_deterministic((unsigned int)intval(vp));
vp->flag |= SPECIAL;
break;
setspec is called when a "special" variable is assigned to. If
RANDOM is assigned to, it does what the manual page says.
Careful with your allegations, ok?
