Re: Why random number?

["Jamie Coles" <jcoles@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If you uses random numbers for test data - how do you know if the data created 
is valid for the program?

We suggest that you extract a subset of real data and for purposes of 
randomness we then scramble the fields - so you get random
numbers AND random addresses.

Jamie Coles
Original Software
www.origsoft.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leif Svalgaard" <leif@leif.org>
To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 1:17 PM
Subject: Re: Why random number?


From: Jeff Crosby <jlcrosby@DILGARDFOODS.COM>
> I have a question I have been wanting to ask for a long time.
> At the risk of appearing incredibly stupid, why would a business
> programmer need a random number?

it depends on what you do. But here are some uses:
1) generating session keys for secure communication
2) generating test data
3) generating PINs or passwords
4) simulating activity for stress testing
5) irritating CFINT  :-)


_______________________________________________
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list
To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: http://lists.midrange.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@midrange.com
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.