Re: [boost] boost::random, header-only, boost::uuids::detail::seed_rng, and UWP development

Subject: Re: [boost] boost::random, header-only, boost::uuids::detail::seed_rng, and UWP development
From: Edward Diener (eldiener_at_[hidden])
Date: 2017-09-13 22:21:43

On 9/12/2017 9:27 AM, degski via Boost wrote:
> On 12 September 2017 at 15:40, James E. King, III via Boost <
> boost_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> 
>> The older WinCrypt calls are not available in some Windows platforms going
>> forward, so this is
>> going to become a problem pretty quickly for the community.
>>
> 
> You worry too much, just call rand_s
> <https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/sxtz2fa8.aspx> (the same thing
> under the hood, but taking care of any WinCrypt BCrypt, whatever issues).

Is not rand_s VC++ specific ? There really are other compilers on 
Windows other than VC++ ( I can test clang, gcc, and Intel for Windows).

> 
> In the boostorg/uuid library there is a seed_rng class which is doing
>> similar things (however providing more entropy) and the library is
>> header-only.
> 
> 
> The rand_s function uses the operating system to generate cryptographically
> secure random numbers. It doesn't get better than that, maybe a call to
> RdRand <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RdRand#RDSEED> on a current Intel
> CPU, which would use thermal noise (but you'll have to take Intel's word
> for it and just cross your fingers they didn't sell you out to a 3-letter
> agency).
> 
> degski
>