How to have a new random number within a class's function?

[tepid haven]

Im making a 2d Dots and Boxes games and Im trying to make a Random player, so I am trying to use srand() and use rand() everytime after to generate a number to pick a move on the board. My problem is that I keep getting the same random numbers, making it not random. I need help to progress further into my assignment because I need the randomness. If I can get any random number, then I can move on but I am completely stuck trying to generate a authentic random number. Do I need to have a member in my class for rand()? I just need to generate some random number everytime I call this function "PickMove"

Expected Output: Random Number everytime
Actual Output: Same number everytime I call the function

[fair lantern]

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@tepid haven

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[agile iron]

srand should be called exactly once at the beginning of your main. Never again afterwards.

[tepid haven]

okay so I cant have srand in a class function? always main?

[agile iron]

srand seeds the global random number generator. You shouldn't do this more than once while your program runs. Also, in general, do not use srand/rand. They have a lot of problems. Instead look at the more modern <random> library.

Where you do it once doesn't really matter, but in mainis the easiest place.

[tepid haven]

Okay, yes that has fixed my random numbers. Thank you very much for the quick response. Also, is <random> a vector? I cannot use vectors for this assignemnt but my next assignment will allow it.

[agile iron]

No, I mean <random> is a standard library header that contains more modern random number generator implementations that should replace srand/rand. There is a short example at the bottom of the reference here: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/numeric/random

I don't have a beginner-friendly introduction to <random> at hand though...

[fair lantern]

@tepid haven Has your question been resolved? If so, type !solved :)

[tepid haven]

okay Ill check that out, thank you again for helping and showing me new libraries.

!solved

[fair lantern]

Cannot use outside a help channel

[tepid haven]

!solved

[fair lantern]

Cannot use outside a help channel