Re: Should Emacs provide a uuid function?

[Stefan Monnier]

>> (defun secure-random-bytes (n)
>> (let ((file (cond
>> ((file-exists-p "/dev/random")  "/dev/random")
>> ((file-exists-p "/dev/urandom") "/dev/urandom")
>> (t (error "Secure random device not available")))))

> Feh.  Using platform-dependent interfaces in Lisp is not the Emacs
> way, in my book.  How about a primitive which would read from
> /dev/random or /dev/urandom if they are available, or use other
> methods if they are not?

FWIW, I don't think there's anything wrong with writing the
platform-dependent code in Elisp rather than in C.  I generally prefer
code to be written in Elisp when possible and when it's not introducing
a performance problem.


        Stefan