New stuff by AMK.
diff --git a/Doc/Makefile b/Doc/Makefile
index c556213..ebcfa12 100644
--- a/Doc/Makefile
+++ b/Doc/Makefile
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
librestricted.tex librexec.tex libbastion.tex \
libformatter.tex liboperator.tex libsoundex.tex libresource.tex \
libstat.tex libstrio.tex libundoc.tex libmailcap.tex libglob.tex \
- libuser.tex
+ libuser.tex libanydbm.tex librandom.tex libsite.tex libwhichdb.tex
# Library document
lib.dvi: $(LIBFILES)
diff --git a/Doc/lib.tex b/Doc/lib.tex
index c6fd107..fd98bfa 100644
--- a/Doc/lib.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib.tex
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
\input{libmarshal}
\input{libimp}
\input{libparser}
+\input{libsite}
\input{libbltin} % really __builtin__
\input{libmain} % really __main__
@@ -99,8 +100,9 @@
\input{libmisc} % Miscellaneous Services
\input{libmath}
-\input{librand}
\input{libwhrandom}
+\input{librandom}
+\input{librand}
\input{libarray}
\input{liballos} % Generic Operating System Services
@@ -116,6 +118,8 @@
\input{libsocket}
\input{libselect}
\input{libthread}
+\input{libanydbm}
+\input{libwhichdb}
\input{libunix} % UNIX Specific Services
\input{libposix}
diff --git a/Doc/lib/lib.tex b/Doc/lib/lib.tex
index c6fd107..fd98bfa 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/lib.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/lib.tex
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
\input{libmarshal}
\input{libimp}
\input{libparser}
+\input{libsite}
\input{libbltin} % really __builtin__
\input{libmain} % really __main__
@@ -99,8 +100,9 @@
\input{libmisc} % Miscellaneous Services
\input{libmath}
-\input{librand}
\input{libwhrandom}
+\input{librandom}
+\input{librand}
\input{libarray}
\input{liballos} % Generic Operating System Services
@@ -116,6 +118,8 @@
\input{libsocket}
\input{libselect}
\input{libthread}
+\input{libanydbm}
+\input{libwhichdb}
\input{libunix} % UNIX Specific Services
\input{libposix}
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libanydbm.tex b/Doc/lib/libanydbm.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c465d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/lib/libanydbm.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{anydbm}}
+\stmodindex{anydbm}
+\stmodindex{dumbdbm}
+
+\code{anydbm} is a generic interface to variants of the DBM
+database--DBM, GDBM, or dbhash. If none of these modules is
+installed, the slow-but-simple implementation in \file{dumbdbm.py}
+will be used.
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{open}{filename\optional{\, flag\, mode}}
+Open the database file \var{filename} and return a corresponding object.
+The optional \var{flag} argument can be
+\code{'r'} to open an existing database for reading only,
+\code{'w'} to open an existing database for reading and writing,
+\code{'c'} to create the database if it doesn't exist, or
+\code{'n'}, which will always create a new empty database. If not
+specified, the default value is \code{'r'}.
+
+The optional \var{mode} argument is the \UNIX{} mode of the file, used
+only when the database has to be created. It defaults to octal
+\code{0666}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+THe object returned by \code{open()} supports most of the same
+functionality as dictionaries; keys and their corresponding values can
+be stored, retrieved, and deleted, and the \code{has_key()} and
+\code{keys()} methods are available. Keys and values must always be strings.
+
+
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libmisc.tex b/Doc/lib/libmisc.tex
index b7a726e..04be32b 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libmisc.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libmisc.tex
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@
\item[math]
--- Mathematical functions (\code{sin()} etc.).
-\item[rand]
---- Integer random number generator.
-
\item[whrandom]
---- Floating point random number generator.
+--- Floating point pseudo-random number generator.
+
+\item[random]
+--- Generate pseudo-random numbers with various common distributions.
+
+\item[rand]
+--- Integer pseudo-random number generator (obsolete).
\item[array]
--- Efficient arrays of uniformly typed numeric values.
diff --git a/Doc/lib/librand.tex b/Doc/lib/librand.tex
index 4991e59..5a4df3e 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/librand.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/librand.tex
@@ -1,21 +1,22 @@
\section{Standard Module \sectcode{rand}}
+\stmodindex{rand}
-\stmodindex{rand} This module implements a pseudo-random number
-generator with an interface similar to \code{rand()} in C\@. It defines
-the following functions:
+The \code{rand} module simulates the C library's \code{rand()}
+interface, though the results aren't necessarily compatible with any
+given library's implementation. While still supported for
+compatibility, the \code{rand} module is now considered obsolete; if
+possible, use the \code{whrandom} module instead.
-\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module rand)}
-\begin{funcdesc}{rand}{}
-Returns an integer random number in the range [0 ... 32768).
+\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
+Returns a random element from the sequence \var{seq}.
\end{funcdesc}
-\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{s}
-Returns a random element from the sequence (string, tuple or list)
-\var{s}.
+\begin{funcdesc}{rand}{}
+Return a random integer between 0 and 32767, inclusive.
\end{funcdesc}
\begin{funcdesc}{srand}{seed}
-Initializes the random number generator with the given integral seed.
-When the module is first imported, the random number is initialized with
-the current time.
+Set a starting seed value for the random number generator; \var{seed}
+can be an arbitrary integer.
\end{funcdesc}
+
diff --git a/Doc/lib/librandom.tex b/Doc/lib/librandom.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bc92ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/lib/librandom.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{random}}
+\stmodindex{random}
+
+This module implements pseudo-random number generators for various
+distributions: on the real line, there are functions to compute normal
+or Gaussian, lognormal, negative exponential, gamma, and beta
+distributions. For generating distribution of angles, the circular
+uniform and von Mises distributions are available.
+
+The module exports the following functions, which are exactly
+equivalent to those in the \code{whrandom} module: \code{choice},
+\code{randint}, \code{random}, \code{uniform}. See the documentation
+for the \code{whrandom} module for these functions.
+
+The following functions specific to the \code{random} module are also
+defined, and all return real values. Function parameters are named
+after the corresponding variables in the distribution's equation, as
+used in common mathematical practice; most of these equations can be
+found in any statistics text.
+
+\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module random)}
+\begin{funcdesc}{betavariate}{alpha\, beta}
+Beta distribution. Conditions on the parameters are \code{alpha>-1}
+and \code{beta>-1}.
+Returned values will range between 0 and 1.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{cunifvariate}{mean\, arc}
+Circular uniform distribution. \var{mean} is the mean angle, and
+\var{arc} is the range of the distribution, centered around the mean
+angle. Both values must be expressed in radians, and can range
+between 0 and \code{pi}. Returned values will range between
+\code{mean - arc/2} and \code{mean + arc/2}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{expovariate}{lambd}
+Exponential distribution. \var{lambd} is 1.0 divided by the desired mean.
+(The parameter would be called ``lambda'', but that's also a reserved
+word in Python.) Returned values will range from 0 to positive infinity.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{gamma}{alpha\, beta}
+Gamma distribution. (\emph{Not} the gamma function!)
+Conditions on the parameters are \code{alpha>-1} and \code{beta>0}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{gauss}{mu\, sigma}
+Gaussian distribution. \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
+standard deviation. This is slightly faster than the
+\code{normalvariate} function defined below.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{lognormvariate}{mu\, sigma}
+Log normal distribution. If you take the natural logarithm of this
+distribution, you'll get a normal distribution with mean \var{mu} and
+standard deviation \var{sigma} \var{mu} can have any value, and \var{sigma}
+must be greater than zero.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{normalvariate}{mu\, sigma}
+Normal distribution. \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
+standard deviation.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{vonmisesvariate}{mu\, kappa}
+\var{mu} is the mean angle, expressed in radians between 0 and pi,
+and \var{kappa} is the concentration parameter, which must be greater
+then or equal to zero. If \var{kappa} is equal to zero, this
+distribution reduces to a uniform random angle over the range 0 to
+\code{2*pi}.
+\end{funcdesc}
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libsite.tex b/Doc/lib/libsite.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c97fd4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/lib/libsite.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{site}}
+\stmodindex{site}
+
+Scripts or modules that need to use site-specific modules should
+execute \code{import site} somewhere near the top of their code. This
+will append up to two site-specific paths (\code{sys.prefix +
+'/lib/site-python'} and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix + '/lib/site-python'}) to the module search path.
+\code{sys.prefix} and \code{sys.exec_prefix} are configured when Python is installed; the default value is \file{/usr/local}.
+
+Because of Python's import semantics, it is okay for more than one
+module to import \code{site} -- only the first one will execute the
+site customizations. The directories are only appended to the path if
+they exist and are not already on it.
+
+Sites that wish to provide site-specific modules should place them in
+one of the site specific directories; \code{sys.prefix +
+'/lib/site-python'} is for Python source code and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix + '/lib/site-python'} is for dynamically
+loadable extension modules (shared libraries).
+
+After these path manipulations, an attempt is made to import a module
+named \code{sitecustomize}, which can perform arbitrary site-specific
+customizations. If this import fails with an \code{ImportError}
+exception, it is ignored.
+
+Note that for non-Unix systems, \code{sys.prefix} and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix} are empty, and the path manipulations are
+skipped; however the import of \code{sitecustomize} is still attempted.
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libsomeos.tex b/Doc/lib/libsomeos.tex
index f9aedfe..49c1ab2 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libsomeos.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libsomeos.tex
@@ -20,4 +20,9 @@
\item[thread]
--- Create multiple threads of control within one namespace.
+\item[anydbm]
+--- Generic interface to DBM-style database modules.
+\item[whichdbm]
+--- Guess which DBM-style module created a given database.
+
\end{description}
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libwhichdb.tex b/Doc/lib/libwhichdb.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbdfa8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/lib/libwhichdb.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{whichdb}}
+\stmodindex{whichdb}
+
+The single function in this module attempts to guess which of the
+several simple database modules available--dbm, gdbm, or
+dbhash--should be used to open a given file.
+
+\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module whichdb)}
+\begin{funcdesc}{whichdb}{filename}
+Returns one of the following values: \code{None} if the file can't be
+opened because it's unreadable or doesn't exist; the empty string
+(\code{""}) if the file's format can't be guessed; or a string
+containing the required module name, such as \code{"dbm"} or
+\code{"gdbm"}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libwhrandom.tex b/Doc/lib/libwhrandom.tex
index 8ad2339..6094462 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libwhrandom.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libwhrandom.tex
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
\section{Standard Module \sectcode{whrandom}}
-
\stmodindex{whrandom}
-This module implements a Wichmann-Hill pseudo-random number generator.
-It defines the following functions:
+This module implements a Wichmann-Hill pseudo-random number generator
+class that is also named \code{whrandom}. Instances of the
+\code{whrandom} class have the following methods:
\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module whrandom)}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
+Chooses a random element from the non-empty sequence \var{seq} and returns it.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{randint}{a\, b}
+Returns a random integer \var{N} such that \code{\var{a}<=\var{N}<=\var{b}}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
\begin{funcdesc}{random}{}
Returns the next random floating point number in the range [0.0 ... 1.0).
\end{funcdesc}
@@ -18,3 +27,16 @@
When the module is first imported, the random number is initialized
using values derived from the current time.
\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{uniform}{a\, b}
+Returns a random real number \var{N} such that \code{\var{a}<=\var{N}<\var{b}}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+When imported, the \code{whrandom} module also creates an instance of
+the \code{whrandom} class, and makes the methods of that instance
+available at the module level. Therefore one can write either
+\code{N = whrandom.random()} or:
+\begin{verbatim}
+generator = whrandom.whrandom()
+N = generator.random()
+\end{verbatim}
diff --git a/Doc/libanydbm.tex b/Doc/libanydbm.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c465d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/libanydbm.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{anydbm}}
+\stmodindex{anydbm}
+\stmodindex{dumbdbm}
+
+\code{anydbm} is a generic interface to variants of the DBM
+database--DBM, GDBM, or dbhash. If none of these modules is
+installed, the slow-but-simple implementation in \file{dumbdbm.py}
+will be used.
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{open}{filename\optional{\, flag\, mode}}
+Open the database file \var{filename} and return a corresponding object.
+The optional \var{flag} argument can be
+\code{'r'} to open an existing database for reading only,
+\code{'w'} to open an existing database for reading and writing,
+\code{'c'} to create the database if it doesn't exist, or
+\code{'n'}, which will always create a new empty database. If not
+specified, the default value is \code{'r'}.
+
+The optional \var{mode} argument is the \UNIX{} mode of the file, used
+only when the database has to be created. It defaults to octal
+\code{0666}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+THe object returned by \code{open()} supports most of the same
+functionality as dictionaries; keys and their corresponding values can
+be stored, retrieved, and deleted, and the \code{has_key()} and
+\code{keys()} methods are available. Keys and values must always be strings.
+
+
diff --git a/Doc/libmisc.tex b/Doc/libmisc.tex
index b7a726e..04be32b 100644
--- a/Doc/libmisc.tex
+++ b/Doc/libmisc.tex
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@
\item[math]
--- Mathematical functions (\code{sin()} etc.).
-\item[rand]
---- Integer random number generator.
-
\item[whrandom]
---- Floating point random number generator.
+--- Floating point pseudo-random number generator.
+
+\item[random]
+--- Generate pseudo-random numbers with various common distributions.
+
+\item[rand]
+--- Integer pseudo-random number generator (obsolete).
\item[array]
--- Efficient arrays of uniformly typed numeric values.
diff --git a/Doc/librand.tex b/Doc/librand.tex
index 4991e59..5a4df3e 100644
--- a/Doc/librand.tex
+++ b/Doc/librand.tex
@@ -1,21 +1,22 @@
\section{Standard Module \sectcode{rand}}
+\stmodindex{rand}
-\stmodindex{rand} This module implements a pseudo-random number
-generator with an interface similar to \code{rand()} in C\@. It defines
-the following functions:
+The \code{rand} module simulates the C library's \code{rand()}
+interface, though the results aren't necessarily compatible with any
+given library's implementation. While still supported for
+compatibility, the \code{rand} module is now considered obsolete; if
+possible, use the \code{whrandom} module instead.
-\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module rand)}
-\begin{funcdesc}{rand}{}
-Returns an integer random number in the range [0 ... 32768).
+\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
+Returns a random element from the sequence \var{seq}.
\end{funcdesc}
-\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{s}
-Returns a random element from the sequence (string, tuple or list)
-\var{s}.
+\begin{funcdesc}{rand}{}
+Return a random integer between 0 and 32767, inclusive.
\end{funcdesc}
\begin{funcdesc}{srand}{seed}
-Initializes the random number generator with the given integral seed.
-When the module is first imported, the random number is initialized with
-the current time.
+Set a starting seed value for the random number generator; \var{seed}
+can be an arbitrary integer.
\end{funcdesc}
+
diff --git a/Doc/librandom.tex b/Doc/librandom.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bc92ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/librandom.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{random}}
+\stmodindex{random}
+
+This module implements pseudo-random number generators for various
+distributions: on the real line, there are functions to compute normal
+or Gaussian, lognormal, negative exponential, gamma, and beta
+distributions. For generating distribution of angles, the circular
+uniform and von Mises distributions are available.
+
+The module exports the following functions, which are exactly
+equivalent to those in the \code{whrandom} module: \code{choice},
+\code{randint}, \code{random}, \code{uniform}. See the documentation
+for the \code{whrandom} module for these functions.
+
+The following functions specific to the \code{random} module are also
+defined, and all return real values. Function parameters are named
+after the corresponding variables in the distribution's equation, as
+used in common mathematical practice; most of these equations can be
+found in any statistics text.
+
+\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module random)}
+\begin{funcdesc}{betavariate}{alpha\, beta}
+Beta distribution. Conditions on the parameters are \code{alpha>-1}
+and \code{beta>-1}.
+Returned values will range between 0 and 1.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{cunifvariate}{mean\, arc}
+Circular uniform distribution. \var{mean} is the mean angle, and
+\var{arc} is the range of the distribution, centered around the mean
+angle. Both values must be expressed in radians, and can range
+between 0 and \code{pi}. Returned values will range between
+\code{mean - arc/2} and \code{mean + arc/2}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{expovariate}{lambd}
+Exponential distribution. \var{lambd} is 1.0 divided by the desired mean.
+(The parameter would be called ``lambda'', but that's also a reserved
+word in Python.) Returned values will range from 0 to positive infinity.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{gamma}{alpha\, beta}
+Gamma distribution. (\emph{Not} the gamma function!)
+Conditions on the parameters are \code{alpha>-1} and \code{beta>0}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{gauss}{mu\, sigma}
+Gaussian distribution. \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
+standard deviation. This is slightly faster than the
+\code{normalvariate} function defined below.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{lognormvariate}{mu\, sigma}
+Log normal distribution. If you take the natural logarithm of this
+distribution, you'll get a normal distribution with mean \var{mu} and
+standard deviation \var{sigma} \var{mu} can have any value, and \var{sigma}
+must be greater than zero.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{normalvariate}{mu\, sigma}
+Normal distribution. \var{mu} is the mean, and \var{sigma} is the
+standard deviation.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{vonmisesvariate}{mu\, kappa}
+\var{mu} is the mean angle, expressed in radians between 0 and pi,
+and \var{kappa} is the concentration parameter, which must be greater
+then or equal to zero. If \var{kappa} is equal to zero, this
+distribution reduces to a uniform random angle over the range 0 to
+\code{2*pi}.
+\end{funcdesc}
diff --git a/Doc/libsite.tex b/Doc/libsite.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c97fd4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/libsite.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{site}}
+\stmodindex{site}
+
+Scripts or modules that need to use site-specific modules should
+execute \code{import site} somewhere near the top of their code. This
+will append up to two site-specific paths (\code{sys.prefix +
+'/lib/site-python'} and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix + '/lib/site-python'}) to the module search path.
+\code{sys.prefix} and \code{sys.exec_prefix} are configured when Python is installed; the default value is \file{/usr/local}.
+
+Because of Python's import semantics, it is okay for more than one
+module to import \code{site} -- only the first one will execute the
+site customizations. The directories are only appended to the path if
+they exist and are not already on it.
+
+Sites that wish to provide site-specific modules should place them in
+one of the site specific directories; \code{sys.prefix +
+'/lib/site-python'} is for Python source code and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix + '/lib/site-python'} is for dynamically
+loadable extension modules (shared libraries).
+
+After these path manipulations, an attempt is made to import a module
+named \code{sitecustomize}, which can perform arbitrary site-specific
+customizations. If this import fails with an \code{ImportError}
+exception, it is ignored.
+
+Note that for non-Unix systems, \code{sys.prefix} and
+\code{sys.exec_prefix} are empty, and the path manipulations are
+skipped; however the import of \code{sitecustomize} is still attempted.
diff --git a/Doc/libsomeos.tex b/Doc/libsomeos.tex
index f9aedfe..49c1ab2 100644
--- a/Doc/libsomeos.tex
+++ b/Doc/libsomeos.tex
@@ -20,4 +20,9 @@
\item[thread]
--- Create multiple threads of control within one namespace.
+\item[anydbm]
+--- Generic interface to DBM-style database modules.
+\item[whichdbm]
+--- Guess which DBM-style module created a given database.
+
\end{description}
diff --git a/Doc/libwhichdb.tex b/Doc/libwhichdb.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbdfa8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Doc/libwhichdb.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+\section{Standard Module \sectcode{whichdb}}
+\stmodindex{whichdb}
+
+The single function in this module attempts to guess which of the
+several simple database modules available--dbm, gdbm, or
+dbhash--should be used to open a given file.
+
+\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module whichdb)}
+\begin{funcdesc}{whichdb}{filename}
+Returns one of the following values: \code{None} if the file can't be
+opened because it's unreadable or doesn't exist; the empty string
+(\code{""}) if the file's format can't be guessed; or a string
+containing the required module name, such as \code{"dbm"} or
+\code{"gdbm"}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
diff --git a/Doc/libwhrandom.tex b/Doc/libwhrandom.tex
index 8ad2339..6094462 100644
--- a/Doc/libwhrandom.tex
+++ b/Doc/libwhrandom.tex
@@ -1,10 +1,19 @@
\section{Standard Module \sectcode{whrandom}}
-
\stmodindex{whrandom}
-This module implements a Wichmann-Hill pseudo-random number generator.
-It defines the following functions:
+This module implements a Wichmann-Hill pseudo-random number generator
+class that is also named \code{whrandom}. Instances of the
+\code{whrandom} class have the following methods:
\renewcommand{\indexsubitem}{(in module whrandom)}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{choice}{seq}
+Chooses a random element from the non-empty sequence \var{seq} and returns it.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{randint}{a\, b}
+Returns a random integer \var{N} such that \code{\var{a}<=\var{N}<=\var{b}}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
\begin{funcdesc}{random}{}
Returns the next random floating point number in the range [0.0 ... 1.0).
\end{funcdesc}
@@ -18,3 +27,16 @@
When the module is first imported, the random number is initialized
using values derived from the current time.
\end{funcdesc}
+
+\begin{funcdesc}{uniform}{a\, b}
+Returns a random real number \var{N} such that \code{\var{a}<=\var{N}<\var{b}}.
+\end{funcdesc}
+
+When imported, the \code{whrandom} module also creates an instance of
+the \code{whrandom} class, and makes the methods of that instance
+available at the module level. Therefore one can write either
+\code{N = whrandom.random()} or:
+\begin{verbatim}
+generator = whrandom.whrandom()
+N = generator.random()
+\end{verbatim}