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The alternative is not being random, and "decent statistics" means "being pseudorandom" - the statistics are inseparable from the randomness. You can make a PRN
by pclmulqdq 2y ago
The alternative is not being random, and "decent statistics" means "being pseudorandom" - the statistics are inseparable from the randomness. You can make a PRNG that has data races, but from a randomness perspective, that is equivalent to just using /dev/null as your random number generator.
- Dylan16807 2y agoOkay, I think I understand. You're being extremely harsh in how you consider brokenness, so if it's broken it might as well not be generating anything at all, no state needed. I was considering "fairly broken PRNG" as its own significant group, and those need state too if you treat them as separate from "this literally gives the same number every time". But if those all go in the same bucket, then the comparison you made makes sense.