Generate Random Numbers

This is a Perl script to generate one hundred thousand (100,000) random numbers from 0 through 9 inclusively.

Most programming languages are really bad at generating random numbers. However, if we set the random number seed to a different value each time that the program is executed, then the random numbers will appear to be much more random.

You can download this Perl script here, or you can copy-n-paste from here:

#!/usr/local/bin/perl
 
 
 # This script was written for www.philforhumanity.com.
 # If you have any questions, issues, or enhancement requests, please contact us via the website. 
 # Use this script at your own risk.
 
 ####################################################################################################
 #                                                                                                  #
 # This is a Perl script to generate one hundred thousand (100,000) random numbers from 0 through 9 #
 # inclusively.                                                                                     #
 #                                                                                                  #
 # Most programming languages are really bad at generating random numbers.                          #
 # However, if we set the random number seed to a different value each time that the program is     #
 # executed, then the random numbers will appear to be much more random.                            #
 #                                                                                                  #
 ####################################################################################################
 
 
 # Get the timestamp number.  This is the old method of generating an unqie random number seed.
 # my $time = time();
 
 # Get the process id number.  This is the new method of generating an unqie random number seed.
 my $process_id = $$;
 
 # Set the random number seed to the process id.
 srand($process_id);
 
 # Set how many random numbers (from 0 to 9) that you want to generate.
 my $max_numbers = 100000;
 
 # Open the output file to save to.
 open (FH, "> List_of_Random_Generated_Numbers.txt");
 
 # Get and display random numbers.
 for (my $loop=0 ; $loop < $max_numbers ; $loop++)
 {
 	# Get random number from 0 to 10 exclusive.  Note that this will result with a real (decimal number).
 	$random_number = rand (10);
 	
 	# Only get the first digit of the random number.
   $first_random_digit = $random_number % 10;
 
 	# Print random digit to the file.
   print FH "$first_random_digit";
 }
 
 # Close output file.
 close FH;
 
 # Exit.
 exit 0;

This script was written for www.philforhumanity.com.

by Phil for Humanity
on 05/09/2009

Generate Random Numbers

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