package containers

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Random Generators

include module type of struct include Random end

Basic functions

val init : int -> unit

Initialize the generator, using the argument as a seed. The same seed will always yield the same sequence of numbers.

val full_init : int array -> unit

Same as Random.init but takes more data as seed.

val self_init : unit -> unit

Initialize the generator with a random seed chosen in a system-dependent way. If /dev/urandom is available on the host machine, it is used to provide a highly random initial seed. Otherwise, a less random seed is computed from system parameters (current time, process IDs).

val bits : unit -> int

Return 30 random bits in a nonnegative integer.

  • before 3.12.0

    used a different algorithm (affects all the following functions)

val int32 : Int32.t -> Int32.t

Random.int32 bound returns a random integer between 0 (inclusive) and bound (exclusive). bound must be greater than 0.

val nativeint : Nativeint.t -> Nativeint.t

Random.nativeint bound returns a random integer between 0 (inclusive) and bound (exclusive). bound must be greater than 0.

val int64 : Int64.t -> Int64.t

Random.int64 bound returns a random integer between 0 (inclusive) and bound (exclusive). bound must be greater than 0.

val bool : unit -> bool

Random.bool () returns true or false with probability 0.5 each.

Advanced functions

The functions from module State manipulate the current state of the random generator explicitly. This allows using one or several deterministic PRNGs, even in a multi-threaded program, without interference from other parts of the program.

module State = Random.State
val get_state : unit -> State.t

Return the current state of the generator used by the basic functions.

val set_state : State.t -> unit

Set the state of the generator used by the basic functions.

type state = Random.State.t
type 'a t = state -> 'a

Random generator for values of type 'a.

type 'a random_gen = 'a t
val return : 'a -> 'a t

return x is the generator that always returns x. Example: let random_int = return 4 (* fair dice roll *).

val flat_map : ('a -> 'b t) -> 'a t -> 'b t

flat_map f g st is f (g st) st.

val (>>=) : 'a t -> ('a -> 'b t) -> 'b t

Monadic bind.

val map : ('a -> 'b) -> 'a t -> 'b t

map f g st is f (g st).

val (>|=) : 'a t -> ('a -> 'b) -> 'b t
val delay : (unit -> 'a t) -> 'a t

Delay evaluation. Useful for side-effectful generators that need some code to run for every call. Example:

let gensym = let r = ref 0 in fun () -> incr r; !r ;;

delay (fun () ->
  let name = gensym() in
  small_int >>= fun i -> return (name,i)
)
  • since 0.4
val choose : 'a t list -> 'a option t

Choose a generator within the list.

val choose_exn : 'a t list -> 'a t

Like choose but without option.

  • raises Invalid_argument

    if the list is empty.

val choose_array : 'a t array -> 'a option t

Choose a generator within the array.

val choose_return : 'a list -> 'a t

Choose among the list.

  • raises Invalid_argument

    if the list is empty.

val replicate : int -> 'a t -> 'a list t

replicate n g makes a list of n elements which are all generated randomly using g.

val sample_without_replacement : compare:('a -> 'a -> int) -> int -> 'a t -> 'a list t
  • deprecated use sample_without_duplicates instead
val sample_without_duplicates : cmp:('a -> 'a -> int) -> int -> 'a t -> 'a list t

sample_without_replacement n g makes a list of n elements which are all generated randomly using g with the added constraint that none of the generated random values are equal.

  • raises Invalid_argument

    if n <= 0.

  • since 2.4
val list_seq : 'a t list -> 'a list t

Build random lists from lists of random generators.

  • since 0.4
exception Pick_from_empty
  • since 0.16
val pick_list : 'a list -> 'a t

Pick an element at random from the list.

  • since 0.16
val pick_array : 'a array -> 'a t

Pick an element at random from the array.

  • since 0.16
val small_int : int t

A small int (100).

val int : int -> int t

Random int within the given range.

val int_range : int -> int -> int t

Inclusive range.

val small_float : float t

A reasonably small float (100.0).

  • since 0.6.1
val float : float -> float t

Random float within the given range.

  • since 0.6.1
val float_range : float -> float -> float t

Inclusive range. float_range a b assumes a < b.

  • since 0.6.1
val split : int -> (int * int) option t

Split a positive value n into n1,n2 where n = n1 + n2.

  • returns

    None if the value is too small.

val split_list : int -> len:int -> int list option t

Split a value n into a list of values whose sum is n and whose length is length. The list is never empty and does not contain 0.

  • raises Invalid_argument

    if len <= 1.

  • returns

    None if the value is too small.

val retry : ?max:int -> 'a option t -> 'a option t

retry g calls g until it returns some value, or until the maximum number of retries was reached. If g fails, then it counts for one iteration, and the generator retries.

  • parameter max:

    maximum number of retries. Default 10.

val try_successively : 'a option t list -> 'a option t

try_successively l tries each generator of l, one after the other. If some generator succeeds its result is returned, else the next generator is tried.

val (<?>) : 'a option t -> 'a option t -> 'a option t

a <?> b is a choice operator. It first tries a, and returns its result if successful. If a fails, then b is returned.

val fix : ?sub1:('a t -> 'a t) list -> ?sub2:('a t -> 'a t -> 'a t) list -> ?subn:(int t * ('a list t -> 'a t)) list -> base:'a t -> int t -> 'a t

Recursion combinators, for building recursive values. The integer generator is used to provide fuel. The sub_ generators should use their arguments only once!

  • parameter sub1

    cases that recurse on one value.

  • parameter sub2

    cases that use the recursive gen twice.

  • parameter subn

    cases that use a list of recursive cases.

Applicative
val pure : 'a -> 'a t
val (<*>) : ('a -> 'b) t -> 'a t -> 'b t

Let operators on OCaml >= 4.08.0, nothing otherwise

  • since 2.8
include CCShimsMkLet_.S with type 'a t_let := 'a t
Run a generator
val run : ?st:state -> 'a t -> 'a

Using a random state (possibly the one in argument) run a generator.

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