[Python-Dev] Unittests (original) (raw)

Guido van Rossum guido@python.org
Tue, 09 Apr 2002 20:53:02 -0400

> I can certainly see the use of providing a given random algorithm for > those who want stability, while at the same time letting the random > module migrate to a stronger algorithm for the benefit for humanity. > > But then again, Tim might have a good reason why that's a bad idea. I > don't know.

It's a good idea, but what was a bad idea was continuing to call the bad seed method plain "seed()". I toyed with adding a "version number" argument to seed, and that may still be a good idea; the random.py getstate() does save a version number, so that it's possible to change default methods entirely someday yet unpickle old random instances (2.1 or later) and get back the same generator you thought you had pickled. I ran out of time before I ran out of ideas, though .

I'll leave it to the OP to continue this thread.

--Guido van Rossum (home page: http://www.python.org/~guido/)