Crazy how much difference the right data structure / #algorithm for a task makes.

This week I learned about #Deterministic #Finite #Automata and #Nondeterministic Finite Automata just to redo my clunky #AdventOfCode2023 day 12 challenge, written in #Rust #RustLang

Runtime for part 1 dropped from 1-2secs to milliseconds. Part 2 also milliseconds 😮

Are there any good Rust crates for DFAs/NFAs?

Many people solved that problem with #Dynamic #Programming - something else for the learn list 😉

#HowTo get #entropy for #PRNG #PseudoRandomNumberGeneration on old hardware? #nondeterministic #RetroComputing

My #Amiga #A500 running my software makes the same sounds in the same order when powered on, when I really want it to be different each time. I seed based on `time()` but either libc from VBCC does not support it or the machine has no battery-backed real time clock or both.

Maybe I could use a #ParallelPort #sampler cartridge and hope its noise floor isn't too good? Allocate memory without clearing and hash it before using it (would that survive a cold boot?).