This is the current snapshot of the rand_rate random number tester. It encapsulates all of the Gnu Scientific Library random number generators as well as /dev/random and /dev/urandom in a single harness that can time them and subject them to various tests for randomness. These tests are variously drawn from Marsaglia's "Diehard" battery of random number tests, the NIST STS tests, useful e.g. binning or spectral tests that I've found doing research into random number tests or tests that I myself have made up or that are improvements on tests from other sources.

The primary point of this tester is to make it easy to time and test (pseudo)random number generators OR hardware or other generators. Three examples are provided of wrapping a random number generator and inserting it so that it is can be called via the GSL interface. An interface is planned that would allow random numbers to be read in from a file, allowing the tool to be used with any generator (wrappable or not) that can generate a table of random numbers.

Another important motivation for writing rand_rate is to have the entire test code and documentation be fully Gnu Public Licensed and hence openly available for adaptation, testing, modification, including the addition of new tests. The primary objections I have towards diehard and sts are not that they are or are not adequate and complete; it is that the code is obscure and not explicitly published for reuse. It is my hope that by providing this tool in autodocumenting source, it makes it easy to add new tests, critique older tests, and improve the suite in general.

I hope that you find rand_rate useful.