[Octave-bug-tracker] [bug #36363] Matlab uses a constant seed for its rand functions. Octave generates new seed on startup

[Michael Godfrey]

Follow-up Comment #2, bug #36363 (project octave):

The point is not to generate the same numbers as
Matlab, which I agree is not a reasonable idea,
but to generate the same results if the same code is
run again after restarting Octave.  I think that
some users would find that convenient.

Since a change to a fixed seed start seems controversial
could I suggest adding to the phrase in the help rand:

"By default, the generator is initialized from `/dev/urandom' if it
     is available, otherwise from CPU time, wall clock time, and the
     current fraction of a second."

to include a statment that this differs from Matlab's
behavior?

As a minumum this should reduce the chances of people asking for
a change!

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