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I brute-forced a 32-bit random number generator in an internet worm, back in the day[1]. Brute force is underrated.

Did you vary your code, or just try the same code until it was the correct one?

if it works, it's not a dumb solution :)

It is if olalonde doesn't want to have to break into his wife's luggage every couple of weeks...

"If it's stupid and it works, then it's not stupid" — my motto

Rephrasing for brevity: "Nothing stupid works."

I took two things away from my AI class.

1) If brute force doesn't work, you're not using enough.

2) Do the stupid thing first.

Reminds of things my dad would say about mechanical work...

"Use a bigger hammer". "If it jams, force it. If it breaks, it was going to break anyway".