Public Comment Number PC-UK0094

ISO/IEC CD 9899 (SC22N2620) Public Comment

=========================================== 

Date: 1998-02-25
Author: N.M Maclaren
Author Affiliation: Self
Postal Address:
    University of Cambridge,
    Computer Laboratory,
    New Museums Site,
    Pembroke Street,
    Cambridge CB3 3QG,
    United Kingdom
E-mail Address: <nmm1@cam.ac.uk>
Telephone Number: +44 1223 334761
Fax Number:       +44 1223 334679
Number of individual comments: 1


Comment 1. 

Category: Editorial change/non-normative contribution

Committee Draft subsection: 7.14.2.2

Title: The srand function


Detailed description:

The example has caused an immense amount of trouble.  It is an extremely
poor generator, but several vendors have insisted on implementing it 
because it is in the standard.  I do NOT recommend including ANY algorithm
in the standard as, at best, it is a hostage to fortune.  If people really
insist on including a particular generator, PLEASE contact me directly
(nmm1@cam.ac.uk) for comments on the algorithm.  I suggest adding the
following:

    Recommended practice

    An implementation should provide a better random number generator,
    and not use this example.