[Cialug] Alien inconsistent output

[jim kraai]

as computer scientists, we're taught that computers are deterministic

once you experience the nondeterminism, you're ready for the next step

red pill or blue?

On Wed, May 13, 2020, 16:13 Daniel A. Ramaley <daniel.ramaley at drake.edu>
wrote:

> Running into a really weird problem.
>
> I'm trying to use alien to convert an RPM to a DEB. I ran it 3 times on
> the input package. Each time it gave different output! On a 46 MB
> package the output only varied by about 8 kB. So it's not a huge
> variance. But i would expect that if i have a program that transforms
> data, and i give it the exact same data, it should give the exact same
> result. Right? Is there something wrong? Or something i am not
> understanding?
>
> It's extra annoying because in certain circles the word "alien" seems to
> mean something else so when i search for alien size differences i get
> all sorts of conspiracy-theory and sci-fi style sites talking about
> fantastical creatures.
>
> __
> Daniel Ramaley
> Server Engineer 2, Information Technology Services
> Drake University
>
> T: +1-515-271-4540
> W: https://www.drake.edu/its
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