random.randint(2, 12) returns same results every time it's run in Python

Question

I have a script that generates 10 random numbers between 2 and 12:

repetition = 10
while repetition > 0:
    print(random.randint(2,12))
    repetition =          


        

Answer 1

The first thing that you should understand is that computer generated random numbers are not really random. To generate a pseudo-random number, the computer uses a function that generates a number based on a previous value (more details in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_number_generation). The sequence of pseudo-random numbers depends on the first value passed to this function, known as seed.

By default in the Random class' constructor (__init__), used by Python's random module, the seed is defined by the operating system. This is usually based on the current system time. If you defined your own seed using the function random.seed your results will be deterministic. You will always get the same values in this case.

Answer 2

You can set seed value dependent on the time. Seed value will change with every call.

import random
import time
random.seed(time.clock())
repetition = 10
while repetition > 0:
   print(random.randint(2,12))
   repetition = repetition - 1

Answer 3

I had the same issue while doing

from random import randint
randint(0, 10)

now I just do

import random

and then

random.randint(0, 10)

and it works

Answer 4

#Try numpy:

import numpy as np

np.random.randint(low=1,high=7,size=10)

#Mostlikely, it will give you different results after each run.