Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!gegeweb.org!de-l.enfer-du-nord.net!feeder2.enfer-du-nord.net!news-transit.tcx.org.uk!rt.uk.eu.org!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed5.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail
Return-Path: <rosuav@gmail.com>
X-Original-To: python-list@python.org
Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org
X-Spam-Status: OK 0.006
X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 0.99; '*S*': 0.00; 'bits': 0.07; 'option,': 0.07; 'url:py': 0.07; '32-bit': 0.09; 'subject:string': 0.09; 'am,': 0.12; 'received:209.85.210.174': 0.13; 'received:mail- iy0-f174.google.com': 0.13; 'from:addr:rosuav': 0.16; 'from:name:chris angelico': 0.16; 'justify': 0.16; 'random.': 0.16; 'url:hg': 0.16; 'mon,': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'int': 0.18; 'source.': 0.18; 'tells': 0.21; 'dec': 0.22; "doesn't": 0.22; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.22; '64-bit': 0.23; 'happen.': 0.23; 'random': 0.28; 'bit': 0.28; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.28; 'anyway.': 0.29; 'source,': 0.29; 'chris': 0.30; 'subject:?': 0.31; "i've": 0.31; 'source': 0.31; 'does': 0.32; 'sufficient': 0.32; 'pretty': 0.32; "can't": 0.32; 'actually': 0.33; 'that,': 0.33; 'url:default': 0.34; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.34; 'url:python': 0.36; 'file': 0.36; 'two': 0.37; 'received:google.com': 0.37; 'doing': 0.38; 'steven': 0.38; 'received:209.85': 0.38; 'easier': 0.38; 'url:org': 0.39; 'define': 0.39; "it's": 0.40; 'received:209': 0.40; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.40; '2011': 0.61; '26,': 0.67; 'anything,': 0.73; 'guaranteed': 0.77; 'clearer': 0.84; 'url:lib': 0.84; 'underneath': 0.91
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=S2Cs3SjObGz3NfbkOY4zs3fw4XZJISVUEJ4ZBmkJQM0=; b=R0jxLv7hx57X4/FR6lpy4JfU9H5+MUOY7xykGxtwmJQKRxnxRarLSL76xnV8MDDRnJ c4rLXSTOHY4zeMp0dGJyoL0O45KvRNH1owobSytEUXRtyo8uTlAnsjA3hLQWfgbCrZj3 gVsE+aIYei7rzP5Ruf4OCS9FxFVTPQw6XP3Ks=
MIME-Version: 1.0
In-Reply-To: <4ef74572$0$29973$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>
References: <roy-EDF7D2.08304625122011@news.panix.com> <4ef7299f$0$29973$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com> <mailman.4070.1324821283.27778.python-list@python.org> <4ef74572$0$29973$c3e8da3$5496439d@news.astraweb.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:11:56 +1100
Subject: Re: Random string of digits?
From: Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com>
To: python-list@python.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12
Precedence: list
List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language <python-list.python.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list>
List-Post: <mailto:python-list@python.org>
List-Help: <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=subscribe>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.python
Message-ID: <mailman.4077.1324829519.27778.python-list@python.org>
Lines: 23
NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6
X-Trace: 1324829519 news.xs4all.nl 6933 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:51348
X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl
Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:17917

On Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 2:46 AM, Steven D'Aprano
<steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> wrote:
> Use the Source, Luke, er, Chris :)
>
> If I've read the source correctly, randint() will generate sufficient
> bits of randomness to ensure that the entire int is random.
>
> http://hg.python.org/cpython/file/default/Lib/random.py

I prefer not to rely on the source. That tells me what happens, not
what's guaranteed to happen. However... bit of poking around can't
hurt. That file doesn't actually justify anything, because
random.Random() does not define getrandbits() - that, it seems, comes
from _random(); turns out that getrandbits is actually doing pretty
much the same thing I suggested:

http://hg.python.org/cpython/file/745f9fd9856d/Modules/_randommodule.c#l371

Need a 64-bit random number? Take two 32-bit numbers and concatenate.
So, it's going to be easier and clearer to just take the simple
option, since it's actually doing the same thing underneath anyway.

ChrisA