GAP (IO) - Chapter 6: Really random sources

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6 Really random sources
6.1 The functions
6.1-1 RandomSource

### 6 Really random sources

This section describes so called "real random sources". It is an extension to the library mechanism of random source objects that uses the devices `/dev/random` and `/dev/urandom` available on `Linux` systems (and maybe on other operating systems) providing random numbers that are impossible to predict. The idea is that such sources of random numbers are useful to produce unpredictable secret keys for cryptographic applications.

#### 6.1 The functions

##### 6.1-1 RandomSource

`‣ RandomSource`( r, dev ) | ( method )

Returns: a real random source object or `fail`

The first argument r must be the GAP filter `IsRealRandomSource` and the second either the string `random` or the string `urandom`. A real random source object is created that draws its random numbers from the kernel devices `/dev/random` and `/dev/urandom` respectively. Whereas `/dev/urandom` always provides random numbers of not guaranteed "quality", the device `/dev/random` measures its entropy and produces guaranteed unpredictable numbers. However, it might block until enough "random" events (like mouse movements) have been accumulated.

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