From:	Erik Max Francis <max AT alcyone DOT com>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Re: Fast random number generator
Date:	Tue, 15 Jul 1997 01:13:53 -0700
Organization:	Alcyone Systems
Lines:	27
Message-ID:	<33CB3141.CA7B5B6@alcyone.com>
References:	<33C91424 DOT 7615 AT wanadoo DOT fr> <01bc90cc$81dffec0$d1488cd0 AT scochran DOT SHOALSnet DOT com>
NNTP-Posting-Host:	newton.alcyone.com
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To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
DJ-Gateway:	from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp

scochran AT shoalsnet DOT com wrote:

> void randomxy(int &x, int &y) // using refrences speeds it up by using
> the
> actual varibles

Using references are no faster than using pointers, as they are
functionally equivalent, and only represent a stylistic difference.

And, if I may interject a stylistic suggestion here, using references in
this way is in general not so hot of an idea.  References are useful for
very specific circumstances; this is not one of them.  Wherever possible,
one should stick with C's pass-by-value mandate, thus making it clear to a
caller what will be changed and what will not.

Speaking from experience, when one uses too many non-const references just
for the sake of _using_ them, it muddies the whole issue of, when calling
a function, what will get affected outside of the calling function and
what will not.  This can lead to a big headache.

-- 
       Erik Max Francis, &tSftDotIotE / email / max AT alcyone DOT com
                     Alcyone Systems /   web / http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, California, United States /  icbm / 37 20 07 N  121 53 38 W
                                   \
           "All the gods are dead / except the god of war."
                                 / Eldridge Cleaver

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