Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!decwrl!sun!amdahl!gam
From: gam@amdahl.UUCP (G A Moffett)
Newsgroups: net.unix
Subject: Re: Is there a UNIX SVR2 random/srandom equivalent? (manuals)
Message-ID: <1767@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Jul-85 02:52:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdahl.1767
Posted: Wed Jul 10 02:52:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 04:11:01 EDT
References: <1244@hound.UUCP> <11392@brl-tgr.ARPA> <2399@sun.uucp>
Reply-To: gam@amdahl.UUCP (G A Moffett)
Organization: Blue Mouse Trailer Resort, Hellmouth, CA
Lines: 25
Keywords: unix flavors, manuals
Summary: get several sets of manuals

In article <2399@sun.uucp> guy@sun.uucp (Guy Harris) writes:
>> > Does anyone know what I should use in place of random and srandom?
>> 
>> Lesson # 3.  Using the manual:
>
>Using the System V manual isn't sufficient; you need the 4.2BSD manual to
>tell you what "random" does in the first place.  The guy may not have a
>4.2BSD manual, in which case telling him to "use the manual" doesn't help
>much.
>
>	Guy Harris

Guy raises an important point:

If you are going to be working around Unix for a while it is a good
idea to have available to you manuals of the various versions,
especially SVR2, 4.[12] BSD, and Version 7.  As in this example there
are compatible routines with different names, and it just takes a
bit of effort to figure these things out.

If you don't already have these references available to you, it is
*well worth* the investment to have them.  Ecclectic knowledge
of Unix (of anything?) is a good thing.
-- 
Gordon A. Moffett               ...!{ihnp4,cbosgd,sun}!amdahl!gam