Motivation

Until I saw this module, String::Random I have been using clunky ways to generate random text, always having to lookup ascii codes. This module is an excellent way to generate random strings from a template of possible characters.

Instant Random Strings

use String::Random;
$foo = new String::Random;
# e.g. AqF8, YcE2, BjW8 ...
$string = $foo->randpattern("CcCn");
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yields a random four character string: uppercase letter, lowercase, uppercase and then a number. Need a license plate? randpattern("CnCnCn") works for where I live

Smarter Random Strings

Particularly useful is the ability to define sets of characters and assign them to a pattern

# define vowels
$foo->{'V'} = [ qw(a e i o u) ];
# define common consonants
$foo->{'Q'} = [ qw(r s t n m) ];
# e.g. retom, satan, timis ...
$string = $foo->randpattern("QVQVQ");
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particularly useful for generating names of MUD characters.

Random Regex

The module also accepts a regex as input.

# e.g.  342, 289, 832 ...
print $foo->randregex('\d\d\d');
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My Own Usage

• generate short random sequences of DNA using $foo->{'V'} = [ qw(a t g c) ]; to define the four base pairs
• generate passwords for users that are relatively easy to remember, like $foo->randpattern("!QVCVQn") which gives .saZem9 +nicot8 and so on
• random file names without all the randomness of using Digest::MD5

This is one of those small-tool modules that you may find yourself using over and over again.

Edit: chipmunk 2001-06-18