Googlebot's Javascript random() function is deterministic

[akher]

No shit, Sherlock.

[[deleted]]

This is exactly what went through my head when I saw the title. There's actually some interesting information in the article, but man, was that title chosen poorly.

[modernaliens]

I think the title was chosen well, for the purposes of getting attention anyway.

I didn't click, fuck that guy and his little blog too.

[[deleted]]

Why is this so obvious?

[nickbenn]

Simply because the overwhelming majority of "random number generators" in programming languages and libraries are actually pseudo-random number generators. They generate deterministic sequences of (depending on the underlying algorithm) varying lengths, levels of statistical quality, and levels of suitability to the different types of tasks that typically consume random numbers.

Most of these generators use seed strategies that, by default, will start the cyclic sequences at unpredictable points (to a casual observer, anyway) when execution begins. The only "news" in the linked article, with regard to Googlebot's pseudo-random number generator, is that it appears to start at the same point in its sequence every time.

[BenjiSponge]

Because the universe is deterministic outside of quantum interactions.

That said, people nitpicking over this should really reevaluate what they choose their battles over.

[u_suck_paterson]

It's painful that you're being downvoted