-- Returns a consistent list of random points within a volume.
-- Each call to this method will give the same set of points if the same parameters are provided
mapgen_helper.get_random_points = function(minp, maxp, min_output_size, max_output_size)
    local next_seed = math.random(1, 2^21) -- should be 2^31, but I've had a report that this causes a crash in the Lua interpreter on some systems.
    math.randomseed(minetest.hash_node_position(minp) + mapgen_helper.mapgen_seed)

    local count = math.random(min_output_size, max_output_size)
    local result = {}
    while count > 0 do
        local point = {}
        point.x = math.random(minp.x, maxp.x)
        point.y = math.random(minp.y, maxp.y)
        point.z = math.random(minp.z, maxp.z)
        table.insert(result, point)
        count = count - 1
    end

    math.randomseed(next_seed)
    return result
end

-- Returns a random value based on the x and z coordinates of pos, always the same for the same x and z
mapgen_helper.xz_consistent_randomp = function(pos)
    local next_seed = math.random(1, 2^21) -- should be 2^31, but I've had a report that this causes a crash in the Lua interpreter on some systems.
    math.randomseed(pos.x + pos.z * 2 ^ 8)
    local output = math.random()
    math.randomseed(next_seed)
    return output
end

mapgen_helper.xz_consistent_randomi = function(area, vi)
    local pos = area:position(vi)
    return mapgen_helper.xz_consistent_randomp(pos)
end