This is just a quick thought, but it would be fast. How about estmating an average value for the (bytes/word) in the files. Once you have that, just stat the files for filesize, then obtain a number $n = ( $filesize / $ave_bytes_per_word).

Then push the name of the file, $n times into a selection array. When done filling the processing array, just randomly select from the array.

I'm not really a human, but I play one on earth. Cogito ergo sum a bum

In reply to Re: Efficiently selecting a random, weighted element by zentara
in thread Efficiently selecting a random, weighted element by jimt

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