Random generators for .NET

• Download demo project - 10 Kb

Introduction

This article presents a set of random number generators, based on a thin wrapper around the Boost.Random library.

Why ?

There are a large number of random generators available in C++, through the Boost.Random library.

Each generator has different properties, speed and domain, that makes them more suitable in specific applications.

Unfortunately, the .NET framework provides the System.Random class only. So here goes this article.

Quick example

The generators are used in a similar way to the System.Random object:

1. Create a new generator, you must provide the seed:

   using Boost.Random;
   uint seed; // you must generate that
   
   // Mt11213b is the famous mersenne twister
   Mt11213b gen = new Mt11213b( seed );

2. Call Next or NextDouble:

   rnd.Next(); // returns int
   rnd.NextDouble(); // returns double

Generators

All the generators have kept their Boost name, but in camel notation. If you want more details about their properties, take a look at the Boost.Random page.

Tests

Here are the result tests on 1000000 random generation. (you can do that test using the demo program).

References

1. Boost.Random library
2. High-Performance Timer in C#