Create a deterministic random generator

[Dawoodoz]

Because random generators in C++ are defined by the compilers, compiling the same program with different C++ compilers can produce different results. Having a specified implementation of a random generator could improve that, so that it only changes if critical bugs are detected. It should have a large source of entropy and be balanced between speed and even distributions.

[MiguelECL]

Would using a random generator engine defined in the std library with a fixed seed solve this issue?

[Dawoodoz]

Would using a random generator engine defined in the std library with a fixed seed solve this issue?

In theory, yes. Choosing a specific algorithm that is mandated by the standard to exist would work. In practice however, not all C++ compilers will be fully compliant with the C++ standard, implementations can have different interpretations of the standard, and we don't know if those features will be deprecated for new random generators in future versions of C++. I remember how a random generator in pixel shader assembler got deprecated despite being a core functionality in GPU hardware. Just have to write the code in such a simple way that no compiler can refuse to compile it.

[MiguelECL]

Created a draft-pr concerning this issue, consisting of a C++ implementation of the xorshiftr+ PRNG. #127

[Dawoodoz]

Solved in #131