Perlfaq5 (seen via http://cvs.perl.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/perlfaq/ ) says:
<<
=head2 How do I select a random line from a file?
Here's an algorithm from the Camel Book:
srand;
rand($.) < 1 && ($line = $_) while <>;
This has a significant advantage in space over reading the whole
file in. A simple proof by induction is available upon
request if you doubt the algorithm's correctness.
>>
This "upon request" business is an annoyance. It should be replaced by
either the "simple proof", or a URL to the simple proof (neither of which I
have on hand, or I would supply a patch).
--
Sean M. Burke [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.spinn.net/~sburke/
