New in Rio: custom PRNG

I don't know if anyone noticed, but there is something new in the System unit of Delphi 10.3 Rio that is not documented yet.

In Rio, if you want to improve the default pseudo random number generator (PRNG), you can now supply your own 32 bit random function. There is a procedural variable, Random32Proc of type function: UInt32, to which you can assign your own random function. Random will call this function to get a new random value instead of the default function.

The default setting of this variable is System.DefaultRandom32. This is the same as the old Delphi PRNG.

Because your new function may need a different way to set the random seed too, there is something similar for Randomize: RandomizeProc.

Here is the corresponding part of System.pas:

{ random functions }

type
  TRandom32Proc = function: UInt32;
  TRandomizeProc = procedure(NewSeed: UInt64);

function DefaultRandom32: UInt32;
procedure DefaultRandomize(NewSeed: UInt64);

var
  Random32Proc: TRandom32Proc = DefaultRandom32;
  RandomizeProc: TRandomizeProc = DefaultRandomize;

procedure Randomize;

function Random(const ARange: Integer): Integer; overload;
function Random: Extended; overload;

I tried this with the XorShift implementation in my DelphiBigNumbers GitHub repository and it worked as expected.

Much fun with this!

Delphi-Praxis.net

Just a short thanks.

I personally still prefer Usenet-like NNTP newsgroups and a newsreader like XanaNews, Forté Agent, Gravity or even Mozilla Thunderbird over any web-based forums.

But since we don't have those anymore, I would like to thank the fine people at Delphi-Praxis.net. They have done an excellent job replacing the various Google+ as well as the old Embarcadero forums. They have created a well balanced set of groups to discuss things pertaining Delphi and C++Builder.

Sure, there is the new Idera Community, the official replacement for the Embarcadero forums, but I think the Delphi-Praxis.net forums have a, je ne sais quoi, different "feel" to it.

Note that both platforms require you to sign up. I am pretty sure that helps (a little) keeping away the spam and other unwanted input.

If you haven't, go and visit the place. It is a good one. (Also visit the Idera forums, and see which you prefer. I regularly visit both.)

Also recommended:

• begin end
• DelphiFeeds.