Is there some other method besides using %Config to check that Perl uses its own drand48 function?

I would have thought the simplest test would be to seed (srand) with a known value (say 1) and test the first value that rand() returns. If it is the same PRNG you are expecting, then it will produce the same first (and sequence) of values.

That said, it does kind of lead to the question: what is it that you are testing that requires a specific PRNG in the first place?

It sounds like -- and given it is you, I'll not say it any more strongly than that -- you are testing the wrong thing. Ie. You appear to be testing for a specific implementation of a PRNG; rather than for the successful product of whatever your module that uses the PRNG is meant to produce.

What I'm getting at is: is it necessary to limit the use of your module to implementations that have one specific PRNG available?

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I knew I was on the right track :)
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. Not understood.

In reply to Re: randfunc in Config by BrowserUk
in thread randfunc in Config by choroba

Title:
Use:  <p> text here (a paragraph) </p>
and:  <code> code here </code>
to format your post, it's "PerlMonks-approved HTML":


  • Posts are HTML formatted. Put <p> </p> tags around your paragraphs. Put <code> </code> tags around your code and data!
  • Titles consisting of a single word are discouraged, and in most cases are disallowed outright.
  • Read Where should I post X? if you're not absolutely sure you're posting in the right place.
  • Please read these before you post! —
  • Posts may use any of the Perl Monks Approved HTML tags:
    a, abbr, b, big, blockquote, br, caption, center, col, colgroup, dd, del, details, div, dl, dt, em, font, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, ins, li, ol, p, pre, readmore, small, span, spoiler, strike, strong, sub, summary, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, th, thead, tr, tt, u, ul, wbr
  • You may need to use entities for some characters, as follows. (Exception: Within code tags, you can put the characters literally.)
            For:     Use:
    & &amp;
    < &lt;
    > &gt;
    [ &#91;
    ] &#93;
  • Link using PerlMonks shortcuts! What shortcuts can I use for linking?
  • See Writeup Formatting Tips and other pages linked from there for more info.