Fixed Seed Generators vs True Random Number Generators

Developers should use fixed seed generators when they need reproducible results, such as in unit testing to verify consistent behavior, in scientific simulations to compare outcomes, or in machine learning to ensure model training is repeatable meets developers should learn and use trngs when building systems that require high levels of security and unpredictability, such as cryptographic key generation, secure authentication tokens, or lottery systems. Here's our take.

Fixed Seed Generators

Nice Pick

Developers should use fixed seed generators when they need reproducible results, such as in unit testing to verify consistent behavior, in scientific simulations to compare outcomes, or in machine learning to ensure model training is repeatable

Pros

• This is crucial for debugging, sharing research, and maintaining consistency across different runs or environments
• Related to: pseudorandom-number-generators, random-seed

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

True Random Number Generators

Developers should learn and use TRNGs when building systems that require high levels of security and unpredictability, such as cryptographic key generation, secure authentication tokens, or lottery systems

Pros

• They are critical in applications where pseudorandomness could be exploited, such as in encryption algorithms or online casinos, to ensure fairness and prevent attacks
• Related to: cryptography, pseudorandom-number-generators

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Fixed Seed Generators if: You want this is crucial for debugging, sharing research, and maintaining consistency across different runs or environments and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use True Random Number Generators if: You prioritize they are critical in applications where pseudorandomness could be exploited, such as in encryption algorithms or online casinos, to ensure fairness and prevent attacks over what Fixed Seed Generators offers.

The Bottom Line

Fixed Seed Generators wins

Developers should use fixed seed generators when they need reproducible results, such as in unit testing to verify consistent behavior, in scientific simulations to compare outcomes, or in machine learning to ensure model training is repeatable