Math::Libgsl::Random

An interface to libgsl, the Gnu Scientific Library - Random Number Generation.

NAME

Math::Libgsl::Random - An interface to libgsl, the Gnu Scientific Library - Random Number Generation.

SYNOPSIS

use Math::Libgsl::Random;

my Math::Libgsl::Random $r .= new;
$r.get-uniform.say for ^10;

DESCRIPTION

Math::Libgsl::Random is an interface to the Random Number Generation routines of libgsl, the Gnu Scientific Library.

new(Int :$type?)

The constructor allows one optional parameter, the random number generator type. One can find an enum listing all the generator types in the Math::Libgsl::Constants module.

get(--> Int)

Returns the next random number as an Int.

get-uniform(--> Num)

Returns the next random number as a Num in the interval [0, 1).

get-uniform-pos(--> Num)

Returns the next random number as a Num in the interval (0, 1).

get-uniform-int(Int $n --> Int)

This method returns an Int in the range [0, n - 1].

seed(Int $seed)

This method initializes the random number generator. This method returns self, so it can be concatenated to the .new() method:

my $r = Math::Libgsl::Random.new.seed(42);
$r.get.say;

# or even

Math::Libgsl::Random.new.seed(42).get.say;

name(--> Str)

This method returns the name of the current random number generator.

min(--> Int)

This method returns the minimum value the current random number generator can generate.

max(--> Int)

This method returns the maximum value the current random number generator can generate.

copy(Math::Libgsl::Random $src)

This method copies the source generator $src into the current one and returns the current object, so it can be concatenated. The generator state is also copied, so the source and destination generators deliver the same values.

clone(--> Math::Libgsl::Random)

This method clones the current object and returns a new object. The generator state is also cloned, so the source and destination generators deliver the same values.

my $r = Math::Libgsl::Random.new;
my $clone = $r.clone;

write(Str $filename!)

Writes the generator to a file in binary form. This method can be chained.

read(Str $filename!)

Reads the generator from a file in binary form. This method can be chained.

C Library Documentation

For more details on libgsl see https://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/. The excellent C Library manual is available here https://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/doc/html/index.html, or here https://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/doc/latex/gsl-ref.pdf in PDF format.

Prerequisites

This module requires the libgsl library to be installed. Please follow the instructions below based on your platform:

Debian Linux and Ubuntu 20.04+

sudo apt install libgsl23 libgsl-dev libgslcblas0

That command will install libgslcblas0 as well, since it's used by the GSL.

Ubuntu 18.04

libgsl23 and libgslcblas0 have a missing symbol on Ubuntu 18.04. I solved the issue installing the Debian Buster version of those three libraries:

Installation

To install it using zef (a module management tool):

$ zef install Math::Libgsl::Random

AUTHOR

Fernando Santagata [email protected]

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the Artistic License 2.0.