Design
Esper 3 is an exploratory pseudorandom generator built from cellular automata. The Python reference uses width 256, taps at 17, 53, 101, 149, and 211, and a fixed experimental seed (project esper 3). A C implementation then supports wider comparative sweeps.
Checks
The reference stream was exercised over one million bits. The selected monobit chi-square p-values were approximately 0.38–0.47 and runs p-values approximately 0.73–0.91. The C sweeps kept output balance near 0.50016; the lowest reported bit and runs p-values in the sweep were 0.00747 and 0.0162.
These are diagnostic results, not a claim of cryptographic suitability. Statistical batteries can reveal specific failures, but passing selected tests does not establish resistance to prediction or state recovery.
Takeaway
The project is a compact laboratory for comparing rule choices, output extraction, statistical behaviour, and throughput. Its useful outcome is the testable framework as much as any one rule.