Which version of BASIC uses RANDOM for seeding the random number generator (RNG)?

Question

Which version of BASIC uses RANDOM as the pseudo-random seed command?

I believe that the following is correct, given the linked-to articles:

Atari BASIC uses RANDOMIZE
C64 BASIC uses RND(-<n>)
ZX BASIC has RAND as the keyboard token, but the actual code was totally inconsistant:
- ZX80 uses RANDOMISE
- ZX81 uses RAND
- ZX Spectrum (48k/128k) uses RANDOMIZE
BBC BASIC uses RND(-<n>)
AppleSoft BASIC uses RND(-<n>)¹
MS BASIC-80 uses RANDOMIZE
TI-BASIC uses RANDOMIZE
QBASIC uses RANDOMIZE
Locomotive BASIC uses RANDOMISE / RANDOMISE TIME

I can't find a variant that uses RANDOM.

70 RANDOM

¹ With PEEK(78) and PEEK(79) being commonly used to augment/supplement the randomness

The PEEK(78) and PEEK(79) in the linked post aren't part of the RNG, they're being used as an input to RND(-<n>), using system memory to get some entropy. — IMSoP, Jan 12 '23 at 15:17
@IMSoP - ah yes, you are quite correct.... I'll update the post — Greenonline, Jan 12 '23 at 15:41
Another one for your list: Locomotive BASIC uses RANDOMISE / RANDOMISE TIME : https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Locomotive_BASIC#RANDOMIZE_.5Bseed.5D — fdomn-m, Jan 12 '23 at 18:04
note that RAND is in ZX81 BASIC, while the ZX Spectrum has RANDOMIZE (but ZX80 had RANDOMISE (!)) — Radovan Garabík, Jan 12 '23 at 18:05
@RadovanGarabík - Sorry just checked all three on an online emulator, you are right. Updated question. Many thanks! :-) — Greenonline, Jan 12 '23 at 18:22

Raffzahn · Accepted Answer · 2023-01-12T01:25:36.340

21

RANDOM is the keyword TRS-80 Level II BASIC uses to seed the random number generator. For a description see here.

On a side note, the BASIC used is mentioned in the referred article right beside the listing:

edited Jan 12 '23 at 01:25

answered Jan 12 '23 at 00:49

Raffzahn

1 Answers1