diff options
author | Raymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com> | 2010-09-06 23:36:31 (GMT) |
---|---|---|
committer | Raymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com> | 2010-09-06 23:36:31 (GMT) |
commit | 435cb0f23304d57b0cafb2a4449a41150f7fffa9 (patch) | |
tree | f854681ef9bf74e294a66a60f67035c0de27ae4a /Doc | |
parent | 616453c19977c72fb6cbec19d133c1088f5d20fe (diff) | |
download | cpython-435cb0f23304d57b0cafb2a4449a41150f7fffa9.zip cpython-435cb0f23304d57b0cafb2a4449a41150f7fffa9.tar.gz cpython-435cb0f23304d57b0cafb2a4449a41150f7fffa9.tar.bz2 |
Document which part of the random module module are guaranteed.
Diffstat (limited to 'Doc')
-rw-r--r-- | Doc/library/random.rst | 16 |
1 files changed, 16 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Doc/library/random.rst b/Doc/library/random.rst index bf89ade..6ef5d20 100644 --- a/Doc/library/random.rst +++ b/Doc/library/random.rst @@ -270,3 +270,19 @@ Examples of basic usage:: <http://code.activestate.com/recipes/576707/>`_ for a compatible alternative random number generator with a long period and comparatively simple update operations. + +Notes on Reproducibility +======================== + +Sometimes it is useful to be able to reproduce the sequences given by a pseudo +random number generator. By re-using a seed value, the same sequence should be +reproducible from run to run as long as multiple threads are not running. + +Most of the random module's algorithms and seeding functions are subject to +change across Python versions, but two aspects are guaranteed not to change: + +* If a new seeding method is added, then a backward compatible seeder will be + offered. + +* The generator's :meth:`random` method will continue to produce the same + sequence when the compatible seeder is given the same seed. |