function RandomCompat_substr($binary_string, $start, $length = null)
        {
            if (!is_string($binary_string)) {
                throw new TypeError(
                    'RandomCompat_substr(): First argument should be a string'
                );
            }

            if (!is_int($start)) {
                throw new TypeError(
                    'RandomCompat_substr(): Second argument should be an integer'
                );
            }

            if ($length !== null) {
                if (!is_int($length)) {
                    throw new TypeError(
                        'RandomCompat_substr(): Third argument should be an integer, or omitted'
                    );
                }

                return (string) substr($binary_string, $start, $length);
            }

            return (string) substr($binary_string, $start);
        }