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Content-type: text/plain
>> >> 2. There are some potentially curly issues such as
>> >> WinBUGS providing
>> >> its own random number generator, because there does not
>> >> seem to be one
>> >> in the Black Box framework. Other platforms like Java or
>> >> .NET provide
>> >> random number generators. Should we use functions from other
>> >> platforms, or stick to BUGS ones?
>>
>> 1 - I don't know anything about the random number generator in Bugs.
>>
>> 2 - Very many 'Platform supplied' random number generators
>> are rubbish.
>>
>> 3 - BlackBox does provide one (as an example) in ObxRandom.
>> It is due to Lewis, Goodman,
>> & Miller, and is widely cited. It has a small (31 bit) state
>> vector which, in my opinion, makes it marginal for large
>> simulations, and inadequate
>> for very large simulations. It is better than many, and
>> among the best of its type.
>> For performance details refer to Donald Knuth, The Art of
>> Computer Programming,
>> Volume 2, Table 1, page 106, line 19. He describes it as
>> 'adequate but less
>> outstanding', and '... have known defects'.
I have now had a look at the Bugs random number generator.
1 - It is the ubiquitous 'Miller' generator mentioned above
(and used as an example in 'Programming in Oberon' by N Wirth esq.
2 - Since these (Math) modules are pure Component Pascal surely
they are already among the easiest to port to Gardens Point?
Robert
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Received on Wed Oct 27 2004 - 15:14:01 UTC