random numbers

[Manfred Schmidt-Schauss]

Concerning random numbers and I/O,
I think that there is a way to permit this in a functional language.
It can be done by viewing getting a random nunmber as a
non-deterministic I/O.
There must be some precaution in using this:
Some compiler optimization are no longer allowed: common subexpression
elimination, certain forms of parital evaluation, the generalization to
lambda-lifting using MFE's .
I think there some foundational work is to be done in this direction. Bjoern
Lispers contribution to this mailing list point in this direction.
 
See for example the informal paper on I/O in Natural Expert in
Proc. Functional Programming Galsgow 1991, Workshops in Computing,
 Springer-Verlag

 regards,
    Manfred

Manfred Schmidt-Schau"s
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