Mir Random [WIP]

[Timon Gehr via Digitalmars-d]

On 23.11.2016 00:55, Andrei Alexandrescu wrote:
> On 11/22/16 1:31 AM, Ilya Yaroshenko wrote:
>>  - `opCall` API instead of range interface is used (similar to C++)
>
> This seems like a gratuitous departure from common D practice. Random
> number generators are most naturally modeled in D as infinite ranges. --
> Andrei

I would posit that it is not actually natural to model random numbers as 
ranges. Not every random object is a sequence. Different samples are 
(ideally) independent, so there is little conceptual motivation to group 
them together -- it just increases the logistic overhead needed to get 
at the single samples. I.e., the most natural way to use a PRNG range is 
as follows:

PRNG range;
auto sample(){
     auto r=range.front;
     range.popFront();
     return r;
}

PRNGs are an example where global state is actually desirable, because 
in contrast to most other programming tasks, usually less predictability 
is good.